Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh begin Dr Harty Cup campaign with win over holders Cashel CS

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh 1-19 Cashel CS 0-20

THE obituaries were premature – northside hurling lives.

Following on from Glen Rovers’ county minor title on Monday night, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh produced a stirring comeback over holders Cashel CS in Wednesday’s TUS Dr Harty Cup opener.

Banteer Sportsfield may not have been party to many great Harty days in the past, but this was one that will long in the memory. Down by six points at one stage in the first half, the Cork city school trailed by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time but that deficit had been eradicated within six second-half minutes, thanks in part to a fine DJ Ó Cofaigh goal.

With eight minutes remaining, ‘the AG’ held a 1-17 to 0-15 but Cashel showed in winning last year’s competition that there was a strong resolve about them. Bit by bit, the lead was whittled down – Oisín O’Donoghue finished with ten points for the Tipperary school – but parity remained elusive.

The scenes at the end were reminiscent of those that greeted North Monastery’s 19 Harty titles between 1919 and 1994. That last victory included Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and he featured as part of the coaching team alongside Sarsfields duo Garry Gray and manager Tadhg Óg Murphy.

They will know that this display will need to be matched and bettered but, in a three-team group featuring Cashel and Our Lady’s Secondary School of Templemore, it was a big step based on effort, application, discipline and no lack of skill.

Turning with a five-point deficit, they had cut that to three within two minutes of the resumption as sub Craig Ó Súilleabháin was on target before his cousin, Cork U20 All-Ireland winner Ross Ó Súilleabháin, got his fourth point of the day. Then came the crucial score as midfielder Seán Pól Cuc – an indefatigable presence in the second half – picked out Ó Cofaigh. While he still had a lot to do, his shot from a narrow angle whizzed past Tommy Breen.

Two Ross Ó Súilleabháin points gave them a cushion before Cúc landed one from halfway – 1-11 to 0-11 in front and it could have been wore as subsequent chances went begging.

Prior to that, the holders had led all the way through the first half. At one stage, their lead was 0-10 to 0-4, with Shane Buckley and Dylan Fogarty outstanding in the half-back line while Adam Daly was instrumental at midfield and O’Donoghue provided strong running in the half-forwards.

After going behind, Cashel were always going to come up with a response but they lacked the fluency of the first half. Nevertheless, O’Donoghue’s dead-ball accuracy gave them an avenue while the same player was only denied a goal by a good save from Josh Ó Gabhláin, who was a part of the successful Glen minor side.

With Ross Ó Súilleabháin’s shooting economy excellent and Ó Cofaigh a superb outlet inside, the AG were able to stay in front, aided by stout defending from Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin and the flawless Conchúr Ó Maonaigh at full-back.

Three in a row from Cashel brought them back to two, 1-17 to 0-18, after O’Donoghue’s ninth in the 58th minute but Ross Ó Súilleabháin reached the same tally in response.

A tenth from O’Donoghue was followed by Daly point from a tight angle to leave the minimum in it. Cashel pressed from the puckout but the AG held firm, forcing a turnover to win a sideline ball at midfield and it was all over bar the shouting.

There was a lot of shouting.

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh: R Ó Súilleabháin 0-9 (0-5f), DJ Ó Cofaigh 1-4, K Ó Gealbháin 0-2, SP Cúc, L Ó Muirthile, C Ó Súilleabháin 0-1 each.

Cashel CS: O O’Donoghue 0-10 (0-6f), S Buckley 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 65), B O’Donoghue, A Daly 0-2 each, S Kennedy, D Fogarty 0-1 each.

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AN MHAINISTIR THUAIDH: J Ó Gabhláin (Glen Rovers); G Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Maonaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), C Mac Uidhir (Glen Rovers), E Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers); SP Cúc (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Whitechurch); C Ó Néill (St Vincent’s), K Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh), B Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (Na Piarsaigh); R Ó Súilleabháin, DJ Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: C Ó Súilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh) for B Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (28, injured), D Ó Conaill (Whitechurch) for Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh).

CASHEL CS: T Breen; C Ryan, C Byrne, N O’Flynn; G Dalton, S Buckley, D Fogarty; J Dalton, A Daly; S Cooney, O O’Donoghue, P Colville; B O’Donoghue, S Kennedy, C Bourke.

Subs: P Dalton for Bourke (15, injured), C Walsh for P Dalton (35, injured), S Hall for G Dalton (46).

Referee: M Sexton (Limerick).