Late O’Brien magic fires Ardscoil Rís into Harty Cup final:

Late O’Brien magic fires Ardscoil Rís into Harty Cup final:

By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport

ARDSCOIL Rís are back in the Harty Cup final after a year’s absence following a dramatic 0-18 to 1-14 victory over Thurles CBS in Kilmallock this Saturday afternoon.

Things looked bleak for the North Circular Road school when Cormac Fitzpatrick fired in the only goal of the game nine minutes from time.

However, Ardscoil kept their nerve with Clare minor Marc O’Brien providing a cool head that was need to turn the result in their favour. He hit the target four times in the final stages to turn defeat into victory.

The struggles late in the game didn’t seem possible after a sensational first 10 minutes where Ardscoil hit the target eight times but Thurles came back into the contest as the half developed.

Diarmuid Stritch got the opening score inside a minute after good work from Fintan Fitzgerald and Ardscoil continued in that fashion with two Danny Chaplin scores that followed.

Eoin Carey then set up Daniel Scully for a long range effort with Thurles having no answer to the blistering start by the Limerick school.

Michael Collins then got in on the act with Ardscoil’s fifth point that was quickly added to by Chaplin. That lead could have been even more if it wasn’t for Thurles keeper Harry Loughnane denying O’Brien after Carey’s pinpoint delivery.

Two further strikes from Chaplin, one from play and another from a free, then had Ardscoil 0-8 to 0-0 in front with just 10 minutes on the clock.
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Fitzpatrick did get Thurles on the board soon after with a smart effort from play but Chaplin’s sixth of the half emphasised Ardscoil’s early dominance.

A couple of further Fitzpatrick strikes kept Thurles in the contest but they were unable to halt Ardscoil’s march with Scully and Michael Collins both raising white flags to give their side an eight point advantage once more.

It was soon at nine when Stritch landed his second of the game but Euan Murray’s sublime shot from distance gave Thurles a much needed lift heading into the final minutes of the half.

Two further Fitzpatrick placed balls, and a well-taken James Doyle point then brought Thurles to within five at the break with the score at 0-12 to 0-5 in Ardscoil’s favour.

The heavy pitch in Kilmallock made free flowing hurling difficult in the second half with a physical Thurles side taking advantage. The freedom Ardscoil were afforded in the first half was nowhere to be found after the break.

Fintan Fitzgerald opened the scoring in the second half after good work from Chaplin but Thurles responded through Murray and a classy sideline cut by Robbie Ryan.

Ryan and Jack Hayes then had Ardscoil’s lead down to two points with 46 minutes played but a much needed Collins strike gave Ardscoil breathing space.

The tide was turning in Thurles’ favour in the final quarter with Fitzpatrick and Murray both on target to make it a one-point game with 10 minutes remaining.

Then came the Thurles goal. The powerful Bill Flanagan came out of a ruck with possession and offloaded to Hayes. He fired across to Fitzpatrick, who hit the back of the net with a devastating finish that put Thurles in front or the first time.

O’Brien and Fitzpatrick then traded scores but it was Ardscoil that somehow found the energy to finish the game on the front foot.

The Ardscoil full forward landed a ’65 and a free to level the game for the first time and with extra time looming, substitute Patrick Kearney drew a foul from the Thurles defence.

It was left to O’Brien to win the game for Ardscoil with a free from the acutest of angles and he made no mistake to book their spot in the final.

SCORERS – ARDSCOIL RÍS: Danny Chaplin 0-6 (0-4 frees), Marc O’Brien 0-4 (0-3 frees, ’65), Diarmuid Stritch 0-3, Daniel Scully and Michael Collins 0-2 each, Fintan Fitzgerald 0-1.
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SCORERS – THURLES CBS: Cormac Fitzpatrick 1-7 (0-5 frees), Euan Murray 0-3, Robbie Ryan 0-2 (0-1 sideline), James Doyle and Jack Hayes 0-1 each.

ARDSCOIL RÍS: Fionn O’Brien (Bruree); Eoin Carey (Cratloe), Sean McMahon (Smith O’Briens), Sean Morrissey (Dromin-Athlacca); James Finn (Na Piarsaigh), Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), Daniel Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Riain McNamara (Cratloe), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Danny Chaplin (Sixmilebridge), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe), Eoin Begley (Clonlara).

SUBS: Daire Neville (Cratloe) for Begley (h-t), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane) for Chaplin (38 mins), Darragh Gleeson (Adare) for Scully (46 mins), John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) for Carey (50 mins), Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Collins (60 mins).

THURLES CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Paul Noonan (Thurles Sarsfields), Evan Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill), Jack Lahart (Holycross-Ballycahill); Keith Loughnane (Durlas Óg), Padraig O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Eugene O’Dwyer (Boherlahan-Dualla); Euan Murray (Durlas Óg), James Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill); David Costigan (Moycarkey-Borris); Robbie Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Bill Flanagan (Moycarkey-Borris); Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch), Darragh Kelly (Eire Óg Annacarty), Jack Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris).

SUBS: Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Costigan (43 mins), Tony Corbett (Upperchurch-Drombane) for O’Dwyer (59 mins).

REFEREE: Nicky Barry (Waterford).