Coláiste Treasa 2-23 Holy Rosary College 3-12 

IN-FORM Coláiste Treasa delivered an impressive display to book a position in the All-Ireland Colleges C Senior Hurling final following a deserved victory over Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew at a windswept Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

The Kanturk outfit completed the task thanks to a gritty first-half performance against the elements to enjoy parity at the break before availing of a well-organised team effort upon the restart.

At the end of the hour, Coláiste Treasa had much more energy and purpose to their play, their physical presence key in addition to their speed of touch. The scoring prowess of Brian O’Sullivan and two-goal finisher Calum O’Shaughnessy contributed generously to the cause.

Mountbellew entered the equation with a big name of their own with Minor Hurler of the Year Seán McDonagh on duty. And the Galway inter-county player didn’t disappoint, McDonagh caught the opposing defence off guard early to blast home a close in free to the Kanturk net.

Though O’Sullivan pointed a brace of frees, Coláiste Treasa conceded a second green flag from a fine Oisín Lohan effort. In fairness, the Munster champions absorbed the pressure, O’Sullivan on fire from placed balls, complimented by a mighty effort from the sideline.

Indeed Coláiste Treasa brought a general increase in performance typified in a brilliant fetch from Colin Walsh allowed O’Shaughnessy to apply the finishing touches that helped secure deadlock 1-10 to 2-7 at the break.

Excellent saves by Kanturk ‘keeper Grantis Bucinskas either side of the interval thwarted dangerous Galway raids yet the balance of power had shifted to Coláiste Treasa with O’Sullivan, Alan Walsh and Brandon Murphy splitting the uprights.

Holy Cross lost full-back Niall Moran for a second yellow card and they faced a mountain to climb once O’Shaughnessy netted a second. 

Though McDonagh netted at the opposite end, Coláiste Treasa closed out the game, the only blemish saw a red card picked up by defender Eamon Hayes that may well be contested.

Scorers for Coláiste Treasa: B O’Sullivan 0-14 (0-12 f), C O’Shaughnessy 2-1, C Walsh 0-3, B Murphy 0-2, A Walsh 0-2, T Walsh 0-1.

Holy Rosary College: S McDonagh 2-10 (2-9 f, 0-1 65), O Lohan 1-1, C Murphy 0-1.

COLÁISTE TREASA: G Bucinskas (Kanturk), A Coughlan (Banteer), C O’Sullivan (Kanturk), R Daly (Dromtarriffe); C Sheahan (Kanturk), M Browne (Newmarket), E Hayes (Kanturk); B O’Sullivan (Kanturk), H O’Connor (Newmarket); T Walsh (Kanturk), C Walsh (Kanturk), B Murphy (Dromtarriffe); C O’Shaughnessy (Banteer), A Walsh (Kanturk), R Heffernan (Croke Rovers). 

Sub: D O’Doherty (Kilshannig) for C O’Shaughnessy (59).

HRC, MOUNTBELLEW: B Murphy; M Flynn, N Moran, E Lally; M Crehan, D Newell, B Noone; D Mahon, B Horgan; L Murray, S McDonagh, D Fahey; S Fallon, C Murphy, O Lohan. 

Subs: O Colleran for E Lally(42), L Mitchell for D Fahy(41).

Referee: G Quilty (Kilkenny).