Clare Post Primary Schools U-15 Hurling Cup Final
Ardscoil Rís 6-12 St Flannan’s College, Ennis 1-4
A salvo of goals at the start of each half sealed an ultimately easy win in the Clare Post Primary schools U-15 Division 1 Cup over St Flannan’s in Gurteen on Thursday night, reports Michael O’Connor. Ground conditions were very much playable but the northern cold wind and the spitting rain at time gave no comfort to spectators and players alike. Six of the starting Na Piarsaigh players were from Sixmilebridge and Cratloe and were to the fore in this win contributing 4-7 of the winner’s tally.
Ardscoil Rís played aided by the strong wind in the first-half as St Flannan’s defended in depth yet there was absolutely nothing within the powers of the St Flannan’s players that could contain the hard running attack of Ardscoil led by Cratloe’s Marc O’Brien. The first score came after two minutes with a goal by Cillian Murphy quickly added to from the next puck out by a point by midfielder Patrick Kearney. A further brace of points all from play by Murphy with just four minutes action viewed and the Limerick side were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead.
Flannan’s were stunned and the avalanche of scores was not over yet as Malachy McKenna (point) and a well finished goal by Sixmilebridge’s Dylan Keogh effectively had Ardscoil Rís in complete control of the game with only seven minutes played.
It was not that St Flannan’s were under-performing, just that they were caught on the backfoot for the opening ten minutes. Eventually they broke free and had their first score, a well-executed goal from Conor Ralph, son of Clare senior hurling selector Ken who played his career at corner forward as well.
St Flannan’s had the misfortune of hitting a multitude of wides throughout the game, whilst Ardscoil Rís were more on the hunt for goal and worked the ball in closer. Flannan’s were the better side for the second quarter but little solace on the scoreboard adding just two further scores before half time from Leon Talty and Rian Hickey. It was symbolic of the efficiency of Ardscoil Rís that three attacks in the last five minutes of the first half resulted in three points courtesy of Dylan Keogh, Marc O Brien and Morris Ryan to lead 2-7 to 1-3.
Flannan’s, at this interval were not out of contention but were in dire need of tighter marking in the rearguard and greater accuracy up front. Unfortunately, Marc O Brien did not read that script and his first darting run through the heart of St Flannan’s moments into the new half resulted in an off load and finish to the net by Cillian Murphy. Flannan’s responded with possession and three wides before John O’Keeffe hit Ardscoil Rís’ fourth goal in the 38th minute. Game, set and match for the Limerick school with twenty minutes left on the clock. Cillian Murphy and Dylan Keogh showed no merch as they added minors and when Conor Ryan from Ahane had Ardscoil Rís’ fifth goal before the second water break it was now (5-9) to (1-3) on the scoreboard.
St Flannan’s in the final quarter had the lions share of possession but five more wides and missed two clear goal chances that whilst would not have brought them back into contention might be due reward for their efforts even in the face of a stronger opponent. Ardscoil hit 1-3 in the last ten minutes as Marc O’Brien (1-1), Jack Cosgrove and Malachy McKenna rounded off the scoring as St Flannan’s had the final score from James Murphy.
The winners were served well by John O’Connor, Dylan Keogh, Darragh Horkan, Morris Ryan Conor Ryan (Adare), Marc O’Brien, Cillian Murphy, Malachy McKenna and John O’Keeffe. St Flannan’s gave of their all with solid efforts by Rian Hickey, Conor Ralph, Darragh Ball, Bernard Keating, James Cullinan and Leon Talty.
Ardscoil Rís Eamonn Heffernan (Adare), Sam Mulholland (Cratloe), John O’Connor (Ahane), Cuan Mac Giolla Cearna (Sixmilebridge), Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), Darragh Horkan (Na Piarsaigh), Morris Ryan (Cratloe), Patrick Kearney (Adare) (0-1), Conor Ryan (Adare), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane) (0-1), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe) (Capt) (1-2), John O’Keeffe (Murroe-Boher) (1-1), Malachy McKenna (Pallasgreen) (0-2), Dylan Keogh (Sixmilebridge) (1-2), Cillian Murphy (Sixmilebridge)(2-3). Subs: Conor Ryan (Ahane)(1-0) for O’Keeffe, Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge) for Mulholland, Cathal Foley (Murroe Boher) for Ryan, Michael Naughton (Croom) for Cuan Mac Giolla Cearna, Adam Fitzsimons (Na Piarsaigh) for M Ryan.
St Flannan’s College, Ennis Bernard Keating (Éire Óg), Sean Cassidy (Clarecastle), Conor Hill (Ballyea), Daniel McInerney (Ruan), Sean McNamara (Clooney/Quin), Darragh Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Jamie Ryan (Ruan), Dara Kennedy (Ballyea), James Cullinan (Ruan), Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) (0-1), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle), Patrick Finneran (Clooney/Quin), James Murphy (Kilmaley) (0-1), Rian Hickey (Éire Óg) (0-1), Conor Ralph (Clarecastle) (1-0). Subs: Patrick Clancy (Kilmaley), Darragh McNamara (Clooney/Quin), Rory Ralph (Clarecastle),
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Following the game Caroline O’Connor representing sponsors Club Clare presented the cup to Ardscoil Ris Captain Marc O’Brien in the presence of members of the organising committee of the tournament.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.