Dr Harty Cup: City derby the stand-out among second-round fixtures

A northside derby between Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh and Christian Brothers College is the focus of the majority of the local attention as the TUS Dr Harty Cup resumes today.

With neither side earning a victory in the opening round of Group 4 action three weeks ago, there will be an extra edge attached to the clash at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, with the defeated side left with a massive challenge in terms of progressing to the knockout stages.

Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin was superb for the AG as they led for much of their first outing against St Joseph’s Secondary School of Tulla but the Clare side - champions in 2022 - battled back to grab a draw.

Josh Ó Brosnacháin, Craig Ó Súilleabháin, Seán Ó Dálaigh and Dónal Ó Scannláin all impressed too for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire, who will be looking to repeat the outcome of March’s O’Callaghan Cup final win over CBC. On that occasion, Ó Súilleabháin scored 14 points while current captain Lucas Ó Muirthile helped himself to three goals.

The concession of a pair of second-half goals to Our Lady’s Secondary School of Templemore left Christians with too much of a task in the final quarter of their maiden outing, 2-19 to 0-20 the final score.

The Sidney Hill outfit will need to tidy up their shooting efficiency if they are to come out on top in today’s clash, as well as easing the scoring burden on Cork minor star Eoghan O’Shea - he scored 13 of their points. Michael Tadhg Brosnan and Michael Quill are among those who can make a big impact for CBC.

That game has a 12.30pm throw-in time, with the other seven group games starting an hour later. Tulla take on Templemore in Cappamore, where another win for the latter would send them through to the quarter-finals with a game to spare.

The vagaries of the draw mean that the four Cork schools in the Harty are split across just two of the four groups - Group 2 is the other one with Leeside interest.

Three weeks ago, Midleton CBS and St Colman’s College of Fermoy played out a draw in Lisgoold and the challenge for both now is to show that that was a good point.

For Midleton, there is a trip to Cappoquin to take CBS High School Clonmel, who lost to Waterford’s De La Salle by two points in their first assignment.

Midleton missed Colm Garde in the Colman’s game, though the redeployed Tom A Walsh was excellent for them at centre-back and another of the Cork minor contingent, Darragh Heavin, was also on song.

Fionn Daly and Cian Stack were the go-to players in attack and they will hope that Cormac Deane and Sam Ring are able to have a positive effect on proceedings.

Colman’s are up against De La Salle at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field. They looked good for long spells against Midleton but what will have been as pleasing was how, after losing the lead, they refused to be beaten.

Cormac Barry was nerveless from frees, scoring ten points including the injury-time equaliser, while Denis Fitzgerald and Jack Counihan were also to the fore.

TUS DR HARTY CUP FIXTURES (1.30pm unless stated)

Group 1: Cashel CS v St Flannan's College Ennis, Meelick; Nenagh CBS v Ardscoil Rís, Newport.

Group 2: CBS HS Clonmel v Midleton CBS, Cappoquin; St Colman's College Fermoy v De La Salle Waterford, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field.

Group 3: John The Baptist CS Hospital v Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa Doon, Kilmallock; Blackwater CS Lismore v Thurles CBS, Goatenbridge.

Group 4: CBC Cork v Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G (12.30pm); St Joseph's Tulla v Our Lady's Templemore, Cappamore.