Dr Harty Cup: Big win for St Colman's over Clonmel but they bow out at group stage
Oran Hegarty, St Colman's, looking to break past Brandon Landers, CBS High School Clonmel. Picture: Dan Linehan
A big victory for St Colman’s College Fermoy over CBS High School Clonmel but it wasn’t enough to secure qualification from Group 2 in the Dr Harty Cup at a bitterly cold Bansha on Wednesday afternoon.
The North Cork side had to record a win in this final group outing and hope Midleton CBS lost with scoring different then coming into the equation, but it didn’t come to that.
The Niall O’Leary-coached St Colman’s outfit did all they could with an impressive display albeit CBS High School Clonmel were already eliminated as they only had pride to play for.
The Cork side did the hard work in the opening 30 minutes, playing against a stiff wind, they led by six points at half-time. They pushed on after the break to record a 10-point win.
Cormac Barry was the star of the show with an impressive tally of 0-12.
Despite playing against the elements, St Colman’s set their stall out early landing the first four points.
Cormac Barry landed two frees while Conor O’Riordan and Adam Lardner also scored.
Clonmel did get on the scoreboard with an Aaron Cagney free, but they were struggling to create.
The sides traded points before 1-3 without reply put St Colman’s in a strong position.
Cormac Barry with a free and a Tadhg McCarthy effort before 1-1 in a minute from Ruairc Donovan put his side in a strong position. A brilliant goal after Cormac Barry set him up, 1-8 to 0-2 after 24 minutes.
Clonmel did finish the better, landing four of the last five white flags, Cagney with two difficult frees, 1-9 to 0-6 at half-time.
St Colman’s took the game by the scruff of the neck early in the second half, leading 1-13 to 0-8 after 36 minutes, they then got a second goal when Oran Hegarty finished the ball into the roof of the net.
There was an air of predictability about the game now. Clonmel did hit two of the next three points with Cagney converting two frees, but St Colman’s third goal would arrive after 43 minutes.
Excellent wing-back Denis Fitzgerald powered his way through the Clonmel defence to expertly raise a green flag, 3-14 to 0-10.
The game did peter out in a big way in the last quarter. St Colman’s had a comfortable 3-16 to 0-14 lead. Their opposition did score a goal through Mikey McGuire with five minutes to go.
Cormac Barry landed a pair of frees until the sides traded late points.
Disappointment though for St Colman’s as they bow out.
Cormac Barry 0-12 (0-11 f, 0-1 65), R Donovan, D Fitzgerald 1-1 each, A Lardner 0-3, O Hegarty 1-0, T McCarthy, C O’Riordan 0-1 each.
A Cagney 0-8 f, C Morrison 0-5 (0-1 f), M McGuire 1-0, B Morrison, B Roche 0-1 each.
D Collins (Kilworth); J Batterberry (Ballycastle Gaels), J Mullery (Fermoy), B Ryan (Watergrasshill); D Barry (Watergrasshill), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers); F O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); Cormac Barry (Bride Rovers), R Donovan (Fermoy), C O’Riordan (Bride Rovers); O Hegarty (Kilworth), T McCarthy (Watergrasshill), A Lardner (Castlelyons).
J O’Keeffe (Fermoy) for O Hegarty (47), S McCarthy (Castlelyons) for C O’Riordan (52), K Watts (Kilworth) for R Donovan (60).
C Walsh; E Condon, A Ryan, B Landers; P Spelman, B Morrison, C Roche; C Morrison, A McAndrew; M McGuire, C Freaney, A Cagney; B Fuller, F Napier, B Roche.
D Beckett for B Fuller, A McManus for B Roche (both 39), E Hannon for C Freaney, O O’Reilly for B Landers, D Butler for C Roche (all 55).
Cian Ryan (Tipperary).
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