Stuttering start to Harty Cup for Flannan’s as Ardscoil await

Derek Dormer watched on as mistakes proved costly for St Flannan’s College in their 2-20 to 5-12 defeat to Cashel Community School in round one of the Dr. Harty Cup

DEFENSIVE mix-ups, last-line errors and a referee’s whistle all culminated in a heartbreaking one-point defeat for St Flannan’s in an immensely enjoyable contest that ebbed and flowed throughout in Cappamore on Wednesday afternoon.

As mentor Jack Browne stated afterwards, “Anytime you concede five goals it’s very difficult to win,” and so it proved as the Ennis school now need to take down All-Ireland champions Ardscoil Rís in order to survive in the prestigious competition.

The opening half never really sparked into life as first round nerves played their part with St Flannan’s dropping balls short and Cashel hitting a series of wides.

Level on seven occasions, a decisive moment arrived in the seventh minute of injury time when Cashel full-forward Fabian Ryan cut inside the 20 metre line and as he attempted to shoot he was most definitely fouled with the referee blowing his whistle.

The ball subsequently fell to corner-forward David McGrath who pulled first time to the net. St Flannans understandably protested as the whistle had been blown but the goal stood and heading into the interval Cashel led by two points on a 1-7 to 0-8 scoreline.

The second period had it all really: fantastic catches, tremendous points, hooks, blocks and defensive errors in what was a remarkable 30 minutes of hurling.

Cashel got the dream start, raiding for 1-1 straight after the interval, the goal coming from Ben Currivan who would finish the day with an incredible four-goal tally.

This extended their lead to six points but to their immense credit St Flannan’s would outscore their opponents 1-8 to 0-1 in a nine-minute purple patch.

Some fantastic points were taken in this period including a James Organ single from distance and a superb James Doherty score but it was Dylan Keane Hayes’ finish that really ignited this contest.

After receiving a swift, neatly-popped handpass from Fiachra Kirby, Keane Hayes fired an unstoppable rocket into the bottom corner on the run from just outside the 20-metre line.

A hat-trick of Oisìn Whelan points followed and St Flannan’s now led by three at 1-16 to 2-9.

The drama was just beginning though as Cashel would score 2-1 in 90 seconds with both goals finished by Currivan but in truth they were preventable rearguard errors.

The goal drama continued with another two majors separated by only six seconds when, first, a long Oisìn Whelan free deceived the goalkeeper and ended up in the net, while straight from the puck-out Currivan punished more indecisiveness in the St Flannan’s backline when rattling home from close range.

James Doherty landed a beauty in response and three further points from Oisìn Whelan brought it down to a one-point game before time ran out on a brave St Flannan’s challenge.

The Ennis college must now regroup for a huge showdown with Ardscoil Ris in six weeks time, but if they can cut out their defensive lapses, they certainly have the firepower to challenge for this year’s Harty Cup.

St Flannan’s College: Cian Howard (Éire Óg; Ronan Kilroy (Banner), Fionàn Treacy (Éire Óg), Niall Carrigg (Ballyea); Fiachra Ò Braoin (Sixmilebridge), James Doherty (Clarecastle), Joseph Casey (Kilmaley); James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Sam Scanlan (Clooney-Quin); Diarmuid Toner (Banner), Oisìn Whelan (Clarecastle), James Organ (Ruan); Fiachra Kirby (Ballyea), Cian Kirby (Ballyea), Luca Cleary (Éire Óg). Subs: Dylan Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for Toner (25), Harry Dohery (Clarecastle) for Ò Braoin (25), Tadgh Boddy (Bruff) for F. Kirby (55)
Scorers: Oisìn Whelan (1-11,1-7f, 2’65), James Organ (0-3); Dylan Keane Hayes (1-0); James Doherty (0-2); Joseph Casey, Luca Cleary, Cian Kirby, Fiachra Kirby (0-1 each)

Cashel Community School: Karol Geraghty (Rosegreen); Cian Ryan (Golden-Kilfeacle), Ger O’Dwyer, Ciaràn Byrne (Golden-Kilfeacle); Darragh Spillane (Fethard), Jack Quinlan (Fethard), Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla); Ronan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Shane Buckley (Knockavilla D Kickhams); Eanna Ormond (Golden-Kilfeacle), Ben Currivan (Golden-Kilfeacle), Oisìn O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); David McGrath (Cashel King Cormacs), Fabian Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Adam Daly (Knockavilla D Kickhams). Subs: Robbie Darcy (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Buckley (59), Anthony Walsh (Cashel King Cormacs) for Ryan (60)
Scorers: Ben Currivan (4-0); Ronan Connolly (0-9, 5f, 2’65); David McGrath (1-1); Shane Buckley, Eanna Ormond (0-1 each)

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)

RESULTS
TUS Munster Post-Primary Schools GAA Championships

Munster Under 19A Hurling Championship Round 1
Group C
Hamilton Cashel Community School (Tipperary) 5-12 St Flannan’s College 2-20

Munster Under 19B Hurling Championship Round 1
Group 2
Hamilton High School Bandon (Cork) 1-20 Rice College Ennis 2-14

Munster Under 19C Hurling Championship Round 1
Group 2
Scariff Community College 1-24 Presentation Ballingarry (Tipperary) 0-6
Group 4
CBS Ennistymon 1-17 Clonakilty Community College (Cork) 3-8

Munster Under 19E Football Championship Round 1
Desmond College Gortboy (Limerick) 6-11 St Joseph’s Kilkee 0-9

Munster Under 16.5A Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals
St Flannan’s College 1-22 CBC Cork (Cork) 0-16
Thurles CBS (Tipperary) 0-22 De La Salle College (Waterford) 0-9
St Colman’s College Fermoy (Cork) 2-16 Rice College Ennis 1-16
Ardscoil Rís (Limerick) 4-20 Nenagh CBS (Tipperary) 0-3

Munster Under 16.5B Hurling Championship Round 2
St Joseph’s Tulla 5-24 Clonmel High School (Tipperary) 3-11
Scariff Community College 5-20 Kinsale Community School (Cork) 1-13

Munster Under 16.5C Hurling Championship Round 1
St Caimin’s Community School Shannon 1-10 St Declan’s Kilmacthomas (Waterford) 0-7

Munster Under 16.5C Hurling Championship Round 2
St Caimin’s Community School Shannon 3-21 CBS Mitchelstown (Cork) 2-19

Munster Under 16.5E Hurling Championship Round 2
St John Bosco Community College Kildysart 1-14 Meánscoil SN An Rinn (Waterford) 2-9

Munster Under 15A Football Championship Final
St Flannan’s College Ennis 5-10 St Francis College Rochestown (Cork) 3-7

Munster Under 15C Football Championship Round 2
Hazelwood College Dromcollogher (Limerick) 6-13 Rice College Ennis (2-11

Munster Under 15D Football Championship Round 2
CBS Ennistymon 1-34 Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton (Limerick) 0-10
Blackwater Community School Lismore (Waterford) 2-9 Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna 1-5

Munster Under 15E Football Championship Round 3
Comeragh College (Waterford) 1-10 St Michael’s Kilmihil 0-3
St John Bosco Community College Kildysart 7-18 Fethard Secondary School (Tipperary) 4-6
Coláiste Chiaráin Croom (Limerick) 1-23 Ennis Community College 2-4