Ard Scoil Rís in cruise control

Ard Scoil Rís 3-19 Charleville CBS 0-3

SIX young Clare hurlers were part of the Ard Scoil Rís, Limerick team that retained the Dr Harty Cup, Munster colleges senior A hurling championship, in a very one-sided and disappointing final at Pairc na nGael in Limerick on Sunday.
Damian Moloney and Oisín Hickey (Meelick), Martin Moroney (Parteen) and Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge) were all in the first 15, while Meelick’s Colin Ryan and Bobby Sherlock were amongst the substitutes. Moroney and Shanahan were also in the first 15 when the Limerick school made the breakthrough to win the title for the first time 12 months ago. Both were also members of the Clare minor panel, which won the Munster title in 2010 and went on to contest the All-Ireland final.
Ard Scoil Rís went into Sunday’s final as hot favourites but few expected the gap to be so wide at the final whistle.
In what many have described as one of the greatest ever games in the history of this prestigious competition, they defeated St Flannan’s in the semi-final and were immediately installed as the favourites for the title. Charleville surprised most followers when qualifying for the final for only the second time in the school’s history. In 1938, they were beaten by Thurles CBS.
The title-holders made a dream start to Sunday’s final with John Fitzgibbon scoring a goal in the first minute. Eleven players shared in their impressive tally, as they easily progressed to an All-Ireland semi-final in a few weeks time.
Midfielder Jamie Shanahan contributed 0-3, while full-forward Oisin Hickey accounted for 1-1 and also set up a number of scores for the side.
The trophy was well on the way to the North Circular Road-based school by half-time, when the score stood at 2-11 to 0-2.
Charleville made some changes to their line-up at half-time but they continued to be out-played throughout the field. Many spectators had left the grounds long before Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan sounded the final whistle.
Each of the four Clare players in the winners’ line-up impressed. Such was the Ard Scoil Rís dominance that they were able to introduce five substitutes during the second half.

Ard Scoil Rís: PJ Hall (Adare); Kevin Lynch (Patrickswell), Barry O’Connell (Kildimo), Damien Moloney (Meelick); Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh), Declan Hannon (Adare), Martin Moroney (Parteen); Mark Ryan (Na Piarsaigh), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge); Mark Carmody (Patrickswell), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Brendan O’Connor (Croagh); Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell), Oisin Hickey (Meelick), John Fitzgibbon (Adare).
Subs: Ciaran Keogh (Na Piarsaigh) for Dowling, Jack Kelleher (Patrickswell) for Fitzgibbon, Jody Hannon (Adare) for Lynch, Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for Carmody and Fergal Carey (Crecora) for O’Connor.
Scorers: Shane Dowling (0-5, 4f, 1 65), John Fitzgibbon (1-2), Oisín Hickey (1-1), Kevin O’Brien (1-0), Jamie Shanahan (0-3, 2f), Alan Dempsey and Jack Kelleher (0-2) each, Declan Hannon, Mark Ryan, Mark Carmody and Brendan O’Connor (0-1) each.

Charleville CBS: TJ Garvey; Shane Butler, John Madigan, John Walsh; Conor Twomey, David Reidy, Alan Dennehy; Darren Sheehy, Mark O’Loughlin; Timmy Rea, Mark Kavanagh, John Morrissey; Dean Copps, James O’Brien, Pa O’Callaghan.
Subs: Jonathon McCarthy for Hennessy and Gavin Kelleher for Butler.
Scorers: Pa O’Callaghan (0-3, 2f).

Referee: Fergal Horgan, Tipperary.