Ennis school bridges 42-year gap with Munster success

Rice College Ennis 1-15
Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore 1-09

RICE College, Ennis, captured the Corn Shéamais Uí Dhonnchú in ideal hurling conditions at the LIT grounds, Limerick before Christmas.

1979 was the one and only time that Rice College won the Munster U16½ B Munster PPS, formerly known as Corn an Chuinneánaigh.

On their way to this year’s final, Rice College defeated Castletroy College, St Joseph’s Tulla, JTBCS Hospital and Charleville C.B.S.

In front of a big crowd, they defeated Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore in glorious December sunshine to finally bridge a 42-year gap and claim the U16½B Munster hurling title.

Joint captain, Jack O’Neill, got Rice Colleges scoring underway within the first minute with a fantastic score from the half way line, before Eoin Lahiffe and Tom Curran chipped in with a point apiece either side of a Templemore free leaving the score 3 points to 1 at the first water break.

Another point from Templemore was cancelled out by a well taken point from play from joint captain, John Cahill, who with Tom Curran, were both dominating midfield proceedings at this early stage of the match.

Eoin Fanning scored a fantastic point from out wide. Templemore replied immediately with a point from play. From the resulting puck out, Rian Mulcahy gained first possession and passed to John Cahill who stormed down the centre of the pitch and scored a well taken point before Templemore scored the first goal of the match to level the score at 0-6 to 1-3.

Rice College’s response was immediate. From the resulting puck out, the impressive Aidan Beirne got on to a breaking ball, rounded his man and went direct towards goal.

His strike was saved by the Templemore goalkeeper but it rebounded into the pathway of full forward Eoin Lahiffe, who made no mistake at the second attempt for goal. This was a crucial passage of play just before the halftime break.

While Rice College dominated key areas around the field, early spurned scoring opportunities kept the half time score at 1-6 to 1-3.

The half time message from team manager/coaches, Pat Devitt (Banner) and Eamonn Clohessy (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield) was apparent in the second half as Rice College continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and made their dominant possession pay off.

Roan McDermott, at corner forward opened the scoring in the second half with a well taken point before Padraic O’Donovan chipped in with his first point of the day.

To their credit, Templemore, never gave up and responded with two well taken points of their own before Tom Curran scored his second point from play. The third quarter finished with two excellent points from play from Conor Perill to leave the score at 1-11 to 1-5 at the second water break.

Rice College were put under significant pressure in the final quarter as Templemore endeavoured to get that goal to bring them back into the match.

The full back line of Luke Pyne, Eoin McMahon and Niall Melody worked tirelessly throughout the match to minimise any Templemore threat to goal and the physical dominance of Frankie Lyons, Jack O’Neill and Rian Mulcahy in the half back line also reduced the Templemore threat.

It was point for point in the closing quarter as four Templemore points were answered by two points from Padraic O’Donovan, a point form John Cahill and the last point of the match by Conor Perill left the final score at Rice College 1-15 Templemore 1-09.

Referee Eamonn Stapleton blew the final whistle to amazing scenes of celebration amongst the Rice College supporters. Joint captains, Jack O’Neill and John Cahill became the first captains in 42 years to lift Corn Shéamais Uí Dhonnchú (formerly Corn an Chuinneánaigh) in celebration.

“This is a fantastic achievement for this group of lads and just reward for all the hard work put in by their clubs, their county and their school. I am absolutely thrilled for them and for our school,” said Pat Devitt.

Rice College: Conor Nash (Doora Barefield), Luke Pyne (Eire Og), Eoin McMahon (Doora Barefield), Niall Melody (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Frankie Lyons (Ruan Corofin), Jack O’Neill (Clooney Quin), Rian Mulcahy (Eire Og), Tom Curran (Doora Barefield), John Cahill (Clooney Quin), Eoin Fanning (Doora Barefield), Padraic O’Donovan (Doora Barefield), Conor Perill (Eire Og), Aidan Beirne (Clooney Quin), Eoin Lahiffe (Doora Barefield), Roan McDermott (Eire Og).
Scorers: Eoin Lahiffe (1-1), Conor Perill (0-3), Padraic O’Donovan (0-3), John Cahill (0-3), Tom Curran (0-2), Eoin Fanning (0-1), Jack O’Neill (0-1) and Roan McDermott (0-1).
Subs: Sam Power (Eire Og), Scott Kelly (Banner), David Cahill (Clooney Quin), Liam Hughes (Banner), Darren Moroney (Eire Og), Donnacha Power (Inagh Kilnamona), Darragh McNulty (Doora Barefield), Eoin Fitzpatrick (Banner), Conor O’Toole (Banner), Cailum Henchy (Banner) and Barry Whelan (Ruan Corofin)