John the Baptist Hospital bow out of Dr Harty Cup with defeat to St Flannan’s:
By Colm Kinsella Limerick Leader Sport
JOHN the Baptist Community School, Hospital bowed out of the Dr Harty Cup, Munster post primary schools senior ‘A’ hurling competition, at the preliminary quarter-final stage after suffering a 0-14 to 1-7 defeat to St Flannan’s College, Ennis at a windy TUS Moylish on Wednesday afternoon.
The battling Limerick side trailed the competition heavyweights by just three points at half-time, 0-4 to 0-7. Both sides struggled to find their scoring range in the strong crossfield breeze, racking up 19 first half wides between them.
Two pointed frees from Declan Heavey and Charlie Cronin soon after the restart brought the Hospital side to within a point of their opponents.
However, St Flannan’s regained the upperhand to move five points in front, 0-12 to 0-7, by the 53rd minute.
Resilient John the Baptist hauled themselves right back into the contest when Rory Hanly goaled in the 55th minute after an initial attempt for a three-pointer from substitute Jamie O’Shea crashed back off an upright.
The St Flannan’s lead was now down to just two points, 0-12 to 1-7. However, that was as close as John the Baptist would get to their opponents as late points from midfielder Daniel Costelloe and wing back James Cullinan saw the Clare side to victory.
On a remarkably firm pitch given the time of year, the Hospital students came within a whisker of getting off to a dream start. However, a ground pull for goal from Ballybricken Bohermore’s Limerick minor player Rory Hanly collided with an upright as the referee played advantage to his side.
However, Hospital did manage to open their account when Garryspillane’s Hugh Flanagan, who was recently called up into Limerick’s senior pre-season hurling squad, pointed a sixth minute free.
The sides were tied at 0-2 each after 16 minutes, with Flanagan converting a second free for Hospital.
There was much to admire about the John the Baptist play in the opening half, with their tenacious defending, intelligent use of possession and accurate passing.
The strong crossfield wind made shooting difficult and Hospital, just like their opponents, failed to convert several well-worked openings into precious scores.
A run of four points in a row from St Flannan’s between the 18th and 25th minutes followed from the hugely influential Harry Doherty, with two frees, the lively Conor Ralph and Robert Loftus.
During this period, Hanly was denied a goal for Hospital as St Flannan’s ‘keeper Micheál O’Coileáin produced a smart save in the 24th minute.
Resilient Hospital did remain right in the contest, however, as Bruff’s Charlie Cronin struck over two valuable points, including one from a free.
St Flannan’s three-point interval lead was down to a single point with a further pointed free from Cronin and one from Garryspillane’s Declan Heavey.
However, St Flannan’s regained the initiative outscoring their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 over the next 20 minutes.
To their credit, Hospital remained right in the contest however, and Hanly’s 55th minute goal gave them hope of pulling off a notable victory.
However, St Flannan’s showed admirable composure in the final stages, including four minutes of added time, to seal a hard fought victory and a place in the Dr Harty Cup quarter-finals.
SCORERS: St. Flannan’s: Harry Doherty (0-8, 0-5 frees); Conor Ralph (0-2); Robert Loftus, Ronan Kilroy, Daniel Costelloe, James Cullinan (0-1 each). John the Baptist Community School, Hospital: Charlie Cronin 0-3 (0-2 frees) Rory Hanly (1-0); Hugh Flanagan (0-2, frees); Declan Heavey (free), Diarmaid Hurley (0-1 each).
ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE: Micheál O’Coileáin (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield); Conor Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Joseph Casey (Kilmaley), Sean McNamara (Clooney Quin); James Cullinan (Ruan), James Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona), Robert Loftus (Eire Og); Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea), Dara Kennedy (Ballyea); Ronan Kilroy (The Banner), Darragh McNamara (Clooney Quin); Darragh Ball (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield); Paul O’Connell (Clarecastle), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) Conor Ralph (Clarecastle). Subs: Neil Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Kennedy (37 mins), Marco Cleary (Eire Og) for O’Connell (42 mins), Conor Hill (Ballyea) for Casey (injured, 52 mins), Eoin Kennedy (Ballyea) for McNamara (62 mins).
JOHN THE BAPTIST COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HOSPITAL: Tiernan Ryan (Garryspillane); Niall McNamara (Pallasgreen), Shane Treacy (Staker Wallace), Adam Gleeson (Hospital Herbertstown); Shane O’Dea (Hospital Herbertstown), Declan Heavey (Garryspillane), Rory Hanly (Ballybricken Bohermore); Charlie Cronin (Bruff), Griffin McCaffrey (Hospital Herbertstown); Cian McNamara (Hospital Herbertstown), Hugh Flanagan (Capt) (Garryspillane), Paudie Hennessy (Bruff); Evan Martin (Caherline), Diarmaid Hurley (Hospital Herbertstown), Aidan Carroll (Staker Wallace). Subs: Michael Hanley (Ballybricken Bohermore) for Carroll (27 mins), Jamie O’Shea (Garryspillane) for Martin (42 mins), Conor Shanahan (Bruff) for McNamara (54); Joe Teefy (Ballybricken Bohermore) for O’Shea (64).
REFEREE: Conor O’Brien (Tipperary).