St Flannan’s made to fight all the way

St Flannan’s   1-17      St Caimin’s    1-11
St Flannan’s extended their unbeaten run in this season’s Dr Harty Cup, Munster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship, when they defeated St Caimin’s from Shannon in a game played on an excellent Clarecastle club pitch on Wednesday.

They went into the game as hot favourites but it was St Caimin’s who made the running and fully deserved their one-point lead at half-time. The Shannon side displayed the greater hunger for victory from the outset but, in fairness to the winners, they stepped up a gear in the second half when they looked to be in trouble.

With victory essential to have any chance of making it into the play-offs, St Caimin’s made it known from the outset that they would not be easily beaten. Bobby Duggan gave St Flannan’s the lead when he converted a 20m free in the second minute. St Caimin’s had to wait until the eighth minute for the equaliser, which came from David Burke after Shane Gleeson had failed to find the target from two frees.

Cian Moloney from play and Duggan from a free put the winners two clear but St Caimin’s were growing in confidence and they responded with a brace from Alex Morey, who converted two 65’s before Shane Gleeson had his first score to put the Shannon school in front for the first time.

Duggan levelled for the winners but two great points inside a minute from David O’Brien had the underdogs ahead again.

Bobby Duggan’s next point was hotly disputed by St Caimin’s but the score was allowed after referee Ambrose Heagney consulted with the umpires. Tadhg Lynch levelled the tie for the fourth time but St Caimin’s had the final say in this half when wing-back James O’Brien pointed to leave his side ahead, 0-7 to 0-6.

St Flannan’s returned with Barry Lynch in at wing-forward and they levelled again when Ryan Taylor pointed in the second minute. Two minutes later they regained a lead they would hold to the end when Cian Moloney fired home their goal after a Bobby Duggan delivery. Four points in succession from Duggan helped them to lead at the three-quarter stage, 1-11 to 0-8.

Seven minutes from time, St Caimin’s were right back in the hunt when Shane Gleeson crashed a 20m free to the net to bring them to within three points of the winners (1-13 to 1-10). St Flannan’s finished strongly and they hit five points in the last four minutes to secure their third victory on the trot in this season’s competition.

Pat Tuohy, Joe Barry, Conor Galvin and Aidan McGuane were prominent in defence for the winners. David Conroy had the better of the midfield exchanges while, elsewhere, Conor Lynch, Cian Moloney, Bobby Duggan and substitute Barry Lynch did well.

James Hickey, Evan Keogh, James O’Brien, Alex Morey, Shane O’Leary and Shane Gleeson did well for St Caimin’s.

St Flannan’s will play Doon CBS in the final group game on Wednesday week and victory will see the Ennis school take top spot in the group.

St Flannan’s: Eoin Meehan (Kilmaley); Joe Barry (Clarecastle), Mark McGuane (Clarecastle), Pat Tuohy (Clarecastle); Liam Corbett (Corofin), Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley, capt), Conor Galvin (Clarecastle); David Conroy (Doora-Barefield), Fergus Killeen (Corofin); Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), Tadhg Lynch (Ballyea); Pádraig McNamara (Kilmaley), Cian Moloney (Kilmaley), Brian Guilfoyle (Doora-Barefield).
Subs: Barry Lynch (Kilmaley) for Killeen (half-time) and Aaron Greene (Clarecastle) for McNamara.
Scorers: Bobby Duggan (0-11, 6f); Cian Moloney (1-1), David Conroy, Tadhg Lynch, Ryan Taylor, Barry Lynch, Aaron Greene (0-1) each.
St Caimin’s: James Hickey (Cratloe); Dominick Costigan (Cratloe), Evan Keogh (Newmarket), Paudie Conway (Newmarket); James O’Brien (Newmarket), Alex Morey (Sixmilebridge), Shane O’Leary (Cratloe); James Warren (Newmarket), John Mulready (Sixmilebridge); Jamie Arthur (Cratloe), Shane Gleeson (Cratloe capt), David Burke (Newmarket); Ben O’Gorman (Wolfe Tones), David O’Brien (Cratloe), Conor Deasy (Sixmilebridge).
Subs: John Feehily (Newmarket) for O’Gorman, Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Costigan and Stephen Mulready (Sixmilebridge) for D O’Brien.
Scorers: Shane Gleeson (1-3, 1-2f), Alex Morey (0-3, 2 65’s, 1f), David O’Brien (0-2), David Burke, James O’Brien, John Feehily (0-1) each.
Referee: Ambrose Heagney, Corofin