Harty Cup: Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh lose out to Templemore in cracking tie

Wed, 25 Oct, 2023 - 16:40

Denis Hurley

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore 0-21

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh 2-13

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh’s bid to finish top of Group 6 of the TUS Dr Harty Cup fell short as they lost out to Our Lady’s Secondary School at Fethard Town Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Tipperary minor hurling captain Jamie Ormond was outstanding for Templemore, scoring 16 of their 21 points.

However, while Gaelcholáiste Mhuire cannot now finish in first place, a goal in injury time from DJ Ó Cofaigh may prove priceless in terms of taking second spot.

C GS Colaiste Mhuire v Our Lady's Templemore in the Harty Cup Match Jamie O'Heigreartaigh, C GS Colaiste Mhuire , controlling the sliotar against Jamie Ormond, Our Lady's Templemore in the Harty Cup Match Picture Brendan Gleeson

It turned a deficit of five points into two and turned out to be the last action, despite some complaints about the lack of more injury time. While there was disappointment in defeat, it meant that, coupled with the one-point win over Cashel CS, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire now have a scoring difference of minus-one, the same as Cashel, and it leaves things finely poised ahead of the Templemore-Cashel game in a fortnight.

The vagaries of a three-team group mean the permutations are tight.

A Templemore win or a draw in the all-Tipperary clash will send them through as group winners with Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh in second and Cashel out.

A Cashel victory would leave all three schools tied on two points, with scoring difference brought into play.

A Cashel win of four points or more would have them top with ‘the AG’ second and Templemore third, but the danger area is a Cashel victory with a smaller margin.

If they win by one or two, the Tipp sides progress with Gaelcholáiste Mhuire out, while a three-point difference would have Cashel top with Templemore and the AG then separated by total points scored as they would have the same scoring difference.

While all is not lost for the AG by any means, matters are out of their hands and they will reflect on a slow start to the second half, playing with the wind.

Having finished the opening period well, with a goal from Lúcás Ó Muirthile briefly putting them in front before the teams retired level, the AG couldn’t push ahead again.

Ormond’s tenth and 11th points gave Templemore a cushion while Seán Stapleton, effective after moving to full-forward, threatened a goal too.

C GS Colaiste Mhuire v Our Lady's Templemore in the Harty Cup Match Philip O'Dwyer, Our Lady's Templemore, and Jack MacCraith, C GS Colaiste Mhuire ,searching for the Sliotar in the Harty Cup Match Picture Brendan Gleeson

The AG did draw level by the 40th minute as Ross Ó Súilleabháin scored his sixth point before setting one up for Jamie Ó hÉigeartaigh, but they would ensured 11 scoreless minutes from there.

With Ormond near-flawless from dead balls, Templemore forged four in front and Eoin Boyle was only denied a goal by a great Gearóid Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin block.

The AG did battle back well and it was 0-17 to 1-12 after a superb Ó Súilleabháin 65 from near the left sideline on 55.

Templemore pushed on again though, with points from Joey Quinn, impressive sub Philip O’Dwyer and Ciarán O’Shea.

A 0-21 to 1-13 lead in injury time looked harsh on the AG but Ó Cofaigh produced a great finish when Ciarán MacUidhir dropped in a great free and it is a goal that could have longer-term benefits.

In the first half, Templemore made use of the elements behind them and O’Shea might have had an early goal but for a Josh Ó Gabhláin save.

They led by 0-8 to 0-5 after a huge Ormond free on 22 but good defending from the front by the AG led to a turnover and a Cormac Ó Néill point before Ó Muirthile’s goal, showing deft skill to weave through and finish following a MacUidhir delivery.

That made it 1-6 to 0-8 with Ó Súilleabháin adding a point but a pair of Ormond frees tied the game for Templemore at the break and they were stronger in the second half.

C GS Colaiste Mhuire v Our Lady's Templemore in the Harty Cup Match Gearoid O'Duibhir O'Harrachtain, C GS Colaiste Mhuire ,having the sliotar blocked by Tom Corcoran, Our Lady's Templemore in the Harty Cup Match Picture Brendan Gleeson

Scorers for Our Lady’s Secondary School: J Ormond 0-16 (0-10f, 0-3 65), P O’Dwyer 0-2, C O’Shea, J Quinn, TJ Kinane 0-1 each.

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh: R Ó Súilleabháin 0-10 (0-5f, 0-1 65), DJ Ó Cofaigh, L Ó Muirthile 1-0 each, C Ó Néill, C Ó Súilleabháin, J Ó hÉigeartaigh 0-1 each.

OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: M Ryan; T Burke, E Kennedy, C Sheedy; TJ Kinane, T Corcoran, S Gleeson; C Cahill, M Cahill; J Marnell, C O’Shea, S Stapleton; J Quinn, J Ormond, E Boyle.

Sub: P O’Dwyer for Sheedy (half-time).

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

Subs: D Ó Conaill (Whitechurch) for C Ó Súilleabháin (47), S Ó Dálaigh (St Vincent’s) for Ó Gealbháin (58), J Mac Craith (Na Piarsaigh) for Ó Cróinin (60).

Referee: T Lonergan (Tipperary).