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

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.

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.

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.

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).