Dr Harty Cup: Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG crash out of the competition at the semi final stage

At the end of a great campaign, there is no shame in losing to a better St Flannan's side.
Dr Harty Cup: Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG crash out of the competition at the semi final stage

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG players Seán Ó Dálaigh, Dónal Ó Sccannláin and Séamas Mac Seoin after their defeat to St Flannans, Ennis in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan

St Flannan’s College, Ennis 3-20 

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 2-7 

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG’s Harty Cup odyssey came crashing to a halt on Wednesday afternoon as a powerful St Flannan’s side denied them a first final appearance in 31 years.

The North Mon side had no answer to a physically dominant display from the Ennis school, who bettered them in the air for all three first-half goals.

They had jumped 3-7 to 0-1 clear by the 23rd minute although the AG showed spirited resistance to hit back with goals from Callum Ó Cofaigh and a Craig Ó Súilleabháin penalty either side of half-time.

They had the gap back to 11 before fading as Harry Doherty strung together the final five points for a 1-9 total.

 Seán Óg Ó hAilpin, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG with Jamesie O'Connor, St Flannans, Ennis after their TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan
Seán Óg Ó hAilpin, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG with Jamesie O'Connor, St Flannans, Ennis after their TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan

The AG remained in a huddle on the field for 10 minutes after the full-time whistle amid passionate speeches from their management team about the revitalisation of North Mon hurling before being clapped off by their supporters.

Having made a Dean Ryan Cup final in November, they will return stronger for this experience.

Dónal Ó Scannláin dropped back as a sweeper for the AG but couldn’t prevent the waves of Flannan’s supply while fit-again Clare U20 James Hegarty was left free to mop up at the opposite end.

Flannan’s got off to a flying start within two minutes. From Dara Kennedy’s ball in, the eye-catching Conor Ralph caught the sliotar while falling but immediately regained his feet to feed Darragh Ball who stitched his finish into the top corner.

An Ó Suilleabháin 65 got the AG on the board but despite finishing with 1-5, the free-taking began to falter at either end. 

They ended with 13 wides (five from frees) to Flannan’s 10 wides (six from frees).

While the AG didn’t register a score from play until the 23rd minute, Flannan’s reeled off 2-9 without reply.

All six of their forwards had raised a flag by the 17th minute and both midfielders joined them on the scoresheet before half-time.

Graham Ball, Doherty (0-2), and Marco Cleary each split the posts before the second goal arrived in the 13th minute.

Hegarty supplied the crossfield ball from a free for Ralph to round his marker and rattle the net.

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire determination forced a goal chance in response at the other end. 

Cian Ó Gealbháin’s well-placed free found Conchúr Ó Briain, who battled through but Micheál Ó Coileáin made the save.

Top-scorer Doherty pulled off a sensational grab from Ronan Kilroy’s high ball to drill the third goal in the 19th minute.

 Referee John O'Halloran having words with Séamas Mac Seoin, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final against St Flannans, Ennis at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan
Referee John O'Halloran having words with Séamas Mac Seoin, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final against St Flannans, Ennis at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan

A fine trio of points from Clare U20 Kilroy pushed the lead out to 18.

Ó Scannláin combined with Ó Briain for a hard-earned first score from play and Ó Súilleabháin added a free before their goal on the brink of half-time.

Ó Scannláin exchanged a smart one-two and delivered to Darragh Ó Connaill, who charged straight down the middle. 

Captain Jamie Ó hÉigeartaigh showed quick hands to find Ó Cofaigh to bury the sliotar. 3-11 to 1-3 at the break.

Flannan’s resumed with the opening two points but the AG had their best spell thereafter with an unanswered 1-2 from Ó Súilleabháin.

He shook off his marker for a point, converted a free, and after Josh Ó Brosnacháin was fouled in the square, he blasted the penalty to the bottom corner. 3-13 to 2-5 after 36 minutes.

They would only add two more pointed frees, one each for Ó Súilleabháin and a huge Ó hÉigeartaigh effort, before Doherty’s final flourish.

 Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG Conchúr Ó Maonaigh with Dadhg Óg Ó Murchú after their defeat to St Flannans, Ennis in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan
Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG Conchúr Ó Maonaigh with Dadhg Óg Ó Murchú after their defeat to St Flannans, Ennis in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan

Scorers for St Flannan's College: H Doherty (1-9, 0-7 frees); D Ball, C Ralph (1-0 each); R Kilroy (0-3); M Cleary (0-2); G Ball, D Costelloe, D Kennedy, R Loftus, D McNamara, P Finneran (0-1 each).

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: C Ó Súilleabháin (1-5, 1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65); C Ó Cofaigh (1-0); C Ó Briain, J Ó hÉigeartaigh (0-1 each).

ST FLANNAN'S COLLEGE: M O Coileáin; J Hegarty, J Casey, C Cummins; J Cullinan, C Daly, R Loftus; D Costelloe, D Kennedy; R Kilroy, M Cleary, D Ball; G Ball, H Doherty, C Ralph.

Subs: D McNamara for D Ball (46), P Finneran for G Ball (48), N Hegarty for Ó Scannláin (50), J Barry for Costelloe (54), P O’Connell for Cleary (56).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: J Ó Gabhláin (Glen Rovers); M Gayfer (Glen Rovers), C Ó Maonaigh (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Murchú (Mayfield); S Ó Dálaigh (St Vincent’s), J Ó Brosnacháin (Glen Rovers), C Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Whitechurch, capt); C Ó Briain (Whitechurch), C Ó Súilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Conaill (Whitechurch), C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: C Ó Riain (Carraig na bhFear) for Ó Connaill (44), S Mac Seoin (St Vincent’s) for Ó Murchú (45), G Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtán (Na Piarsaigh) for Gayfer (57), E Mac Eochán (Glen Rovers) for Ó Cróinín (57), G Ó Ceallacháin (Glen Rovers) for Ó hÉigeartaigh (57).

Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick).

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