Dr Harty Cup: Fortune smiles on Midleton CBS as quarter-final spot secured

The literal luck of the draw has earned Midleton CBS a place in the quarter-finals of the TUS Dr Harty Cup.

On Thursday, Munster Post-Primary Schools GAA confirmed the qualifiers for the quarter-finals and preliminary quarter-finals of the province’s top second-level hurling competition.

Five of the six groups concluded this week, with one game still outstanding in Group 3 between Blackwater CS and Cashel CS. Both of those sides will progress to the knockout stages, with the result of that game in Fethard next Tuesday determining who finishes in first and second place.

This year’s competition featured 21 teams, split into three groups of four schools and three groups of three. The three teams finishing top of the four-team groups – CBC Cork in Group 1, Ardscoil Rís in Group 2 and Blackwater/Cashel in Group 3 – will go straight to the quarter-finals and a draw between the three sides topping the three-team groups has resulted in Midleton also progressing directly to the last eight.

On Wednesday, the east Cork school scored six goals in the final quarter to beat St Francis College Rochestown on a scoreline of 6-20 to 0-13, the 25-point win edging them past holders Nenagh CBS for top spot.

De La Salle of Waterford and St Flannan’s College from Ennis, the remaining group winners, will be in the draw for the preliminary quarter-finals, along with the six runners-up – John The Baptist CS of Hospital, Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore, the loser of the Blackwater/Cashel match, Nenagh CBS, Cork city side Gaelcholáiste Mhuire and Thurles CBS.

The draw will take place after the match next Tuesday, with repeat pairings from the group phase to be avoided.

The four preliminary quarter-finals will take place on Wednesday, December 4, with the winners progressing to the quarter-finals, which are slated for Wednesday, January 8. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, January 8 with the final on St Brigid’s Day, Saturday, February 1.