Dr Harty Cup: Charleville CBS produce superb display to reach semi-finals

Charleville CBS 1-20

Midleton CBS 2-11

A TUS Dr Harty Cup semi-final awaits Charleville CBS after an outstanding performance saw them past Midleton CBS in Wednesday’s quarter-final at Mallow.

Despite beating holders Cashel CS in a preliminary quarter-final before Christmas, Charleville – competing in the Harty for the first time in six years – were underdogs against a Midleton side that had gone three from three in the group stage.

The downside to that was the lack of a game since mid-November. That didn’t look to be much of a factor as they reeled off six straight points to quench a five-point Charleville lead in the first half and, with the sides level at half-time, the general expectation was still that Midleton would push on.

Instead, they endured 28 minutes without a score as Charleville scored ten points, many of them by the excellent Chris Dunne. He finished with 12 but this was a marvellous team effort, led by the wonderful display of centre-back and captain Bill Collins.

That first Midleton score of the second half was a Barry Walsh goal after he won a Daniel Murnane delivery. When the Cork minor added a point, they trailed by six, 1-17 to 1-11, but the hardworking Robert Troy set up Patrick Daly for a settling score and goalkeeper Kieran Murphy scored his third free, an effort from near his own 45.

While a low Barry Walsh shot gave Midleton a second goal near the end, Troy was on hand to have the final say. The Charlevile team left the field to a guard of honour from their fellow students and the school are one game away from matching the achievements of 1938 and 2011 in reaching the final.

To do that, they will need to belie the underdogs tag again against a Nenagh CBS side that beat them in the group stage but this will give them heart.

The foundations were laid early. While Ben Walsh answered an Eoin Horgan point to put Midleton 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after a lively opening, Charleville hit the front with a goal and it led to a purple patch. Sixteen-year-old Liam O’Mahony – in for the injured Joseph Hickey – was the goalscorer, meeting a free by goalkeeper Kieran Murphy and diverting the ball to the net.

Fine free-taking from Chris Dunne allowed them to move into a 1-5 to 0-3 lead by the 14th minute but there was never a hint of Midleton panicking.

Full-forward Shane Irwin ended a nine-minute scoreless spell with a good run and point while Dylan McCatrthy and Colm Leahy were also on target as the deficit was reduced.

Influential centre-back and captain Daniel Murnane fired over the leveller in the 20th minute and, when Irwin claimed the resultant puckout and sent it back with interest, they were ahead, 0-9 to 1-5.

Having conceded six points on the trot, this time it was Charleville’s turn to show composure and Eoin O’Mahony and Dunne combined for the latter’s fifth point of the day. After Ben Walsh put Midleton back in front, another Dunne free sent the sides in level.

He began the second half in similar fashion, landing two frees to put them back in front, with Gareth Gleeson franking the advantage on 38 minutes.

Dunne’s ninth, set up by full-back Tom McCarthy, was followed by another that had goalkeeper Murphy and centre-back Bill Collins involved in its genesis and the five-point lead from the first half was restored.

Though Charleville lost Eoin Horgan to a red card for a mistimed challenge on Daniel Nolan, they were able to extend the advantage to six points as Dunne got his 11th of the afternoon.

A score from a player in a red jersey did follow – but unfortunately for Midleton it was Charleville goalkeeper Murphy, convertingma free from his own 65 to make it 1-14 to 0-10 with ten minutes left.

The scores continued to come, with the shortfall in manpower never a factor. A bigger challenge awaits but they will relish it.

Scorers for Charleville CBS: C Dunne 0-12 (0-9f), K Murphy 0-3f, L O’Mahony 1-0, G Gleeson 0-2, R Troy, E Horgan, P Daly 0-1 each.

Midleton CBS: Barry Walsh 2-1, D McCarthy 0-3 (0-2f), S Irwin, Ben Walsh, D Murnane (0-1f) 0-2 each, C Leahy 0-1.

CHARLEVILLE CBS: K Murphy (Newtownshandrum); N Tobin (Bruree), T McCarthy (Newtownshandrum), F O’Sullivan (Ballyhea); S Bresnan (Charleville), B Collins (Newtownshandrum, Capt), S Byrne (Ballyhea); R Troy (Newtownshandrum), T O’Neill (Newtownshandrum); E Horgan (Granagh Ballingarry), E O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), C Dunne (Dromina).; G Gleeson (Charleville), L O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), P Daly (Ballyhea).

Sub: J Hickey (Ballyhea) for Daly (60).

MIDLETON CBS: F Murphy (Killeagh); D Nolan (Carrigtwohill), S O’Callaghan (Aghada), D O’Brien (Killeagh); S Geaney (Dungourney), D Murnane (Carrigtwohill), C O’Callaghan (Dungourney); J O’Leary (Lisgoold), J O’Brien (Cloyne); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), C Leahy (Killeagh), Barry Walsh (Killeagh); D McCarthy (Killeagh), S Irwin (Erin’s Own), P Walsh (Carrigtwohill).

Subs: F O’Connor (Aghada) for O’Leary (38), A Lee (Cloyne) for Leahy (42), E McGrath (Midleton) for P Walsh (49), C Garde (Lisgoold) for Geaney (60, injured).

Referee: T Loughnane (Tipperary).