St. Flannans College bowed out of this season’s Harty cup, Munster colleges senior A hurling championship when going under to a stronger and sharper Thurles CBS before a big attendance at Meelick on Wednesday afternoon.
Thurles CBS 2-21 St Flannan’s College 1-17
Venue: Meelick
Favourites for the title, Thurles CBS were neveer behind and led by five points at the interval when he score was 0-13 to 1-5.
The Ennis school’s forwards struggled throughout to make an impression and they relied heavily on Tadhg Boddy for their scores. The Bruff clubman contributed 0-14 of his side’s scores, 0-13 coming from placed balls.
The winners raced into an early two point led before like scores from Boddy and Harry Doherty levelled the tie.
Thurles responded with four unanswered points before St. Flannans struck for what was, arguably, the score of the game. Full forward Luca Cleary won possession in midfield and soloed past a number of defenders before firing an unstoppable shot to the corner of the net.
Three points in as many minutes for the Tipperary school cancelled out that score and the winners drove on to a five point lead at the mid point.
St. Flannans struck for three early points in the second half but when they lost possession at midfield, Thurles pounced for a goal, a score that rocked the Ennis College.
To their credit St. Flannans continued to battle but, apard from Boddy, their attack struggled and a late goal sealed a merited win for the Tipperary side.
Hopes of Harty cup medals coming to Clare this season now rest with Ard
Scoil Ris from Limerick who have a number of players from Clare clubs in their squad. They defeated Hospital n the quarter final, 0-17 to 0-13 and will play Thurles in the semi-final
Thurles CBS; Harry Loughnane; Paul Noonan, Evan Morris, Jack Lahart; Keith Loughnane, Padraig O’Dwyer, Eugene O’Dwyers; Euan Murry (0-1), James Doyle; David Costigan (1-1), Darragh Kelly (0-1), Bill Flanagan (0-1); Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-11, 0-7 frees, Jack Hayes (0=1), Robbie Ryan (0-5)
Subs; Toby Corbett for E. O’ Dwyer (45); Ryan Bargary for Flanagan (47); Kieran Purcell for Lahart (57); Daarragh Carr for Costigan (57)
St. Flannans; Cian Howard (Eire Og); Ian Willians (St. Josephs), Fiachra O’Broin (sixmilebridge), Paddy Nagle (St. Josephs); Francis Meaney (St. Josephs), James Hgrty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Evan Price (Clarecastle); Joseph Casey (Kilmaley) Jack Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona); Tadhg Boddy (Bruff) 0-14, 12 frees, 1 ‘65, Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) 0-1, Ronan Kilroy (Banner) 0-1; Kiesran Mcdonald (Ballyea\), Luca Cleary (Eire Og) 1-0, Harry Doherty (Clarecastle (0-1);
Subs; Marco Cleary (Eire Og) for McDonald (half time); Robert Loftus (Eire Og) for F. Hegarty (55)
Referee; John O’Halloran, Limerick