Battling AG hit late free to earn draw with Harty Cup champs Nenagh
Seán De Búrca and Rain Ó Croidheáin of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire rise for a high ball against Nenagh. Picture: Noel Sweeney
An injury-time free from goalkeeper Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin prevented Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh from making an early exit from the TUS Dr Harty Cup as they drew with holders St Joseph’s CBS at Knocklong on Wednesday.
Having drawn level at 0-11 each with a superb point from Conchúr Ó Cuinneagáin to end a near-20-minute period without a score, ‘the AG’ immediately fell behind again as St Joseph’s sub Micheál Hutchinson sent a sideline cut to Éanna Tucker and then took the return pass before firing over from a tight angle.
However, there was time for more as the clock moved into the red and when Gaelcholáiste Mhuire won a free on their own 45, Ó Ceallacháin – ordinarily an attacker but lining out in goal – fired over what their first score of the day from a dead ball.
Even then, the Nenagh school might have picked up their second win of the campaign and eliminated at the AG – Cormac Kennedy sent a low ball across goal and a ruck developed as players from both sides sought to gain possession.
The Nenagh sideline felt they deserved a free but when referee Johnny Murphy halted play it was to award one to the Cork school, who had been earlier aggrieved with some of the calls against them.
That was the last action and, over the hour, it could scarcely be said that the Gaelcholáiste Mhuire efforts did not warrant still being alive ahead of a Cork derby with Midleton CBS in a fortnight.
Coming off an encouraging performance against Ardscoil Rís that still equated to a three-point loss, the city school were facing a Nenagh side that had scored 3-20 against Midleton but the three-week gap had allowed winter hurling to be ushered in.
The sides matched each other point for point for most of the first half. KJ Dunne had scored three goals against Midleton and in the opening minutes he went on a mazy run that had to be illegally halted but otherwise the AG citadel did not look like being breached, with Stiofán Ó Laocha coping manfully with the bum marking deal given to him.
Micheál Mac an Ghaill impressed in a sweeping role for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire and wing-back Ó Cuinneagáin had two fine points, the second of those opening up an 0-8 to 0-6 lead immediately after a score from midfielder Nathan Ó Cofaigh, who had linked with his twin brother Callum, full of industry in an attack that had to battle hard.
A free from Dunne, his fourth point, left a point in it at the break, Nenagh having had eight wides to the AG’s three, but Callum Ó Cofaigh set up Seán de Búrca from the restart to put two in it again.
That was cancelled out with a pair of beauties from Dunne before Ó Cuinneagáin gave the AG the lead for what proved to be the final time. However, though Dunne brought Nenagh level on 41, they were only able to add one more point, a free from him, in the interim as wayward shooting continued to haunt them.
The AG defensive effort was at the cost of attacking output but they had their reward with the late levellers.
The smart money will still be on Nenagh and Ardscoil progressing, but a dead rubber has been avoided.
C Ó Cuinneagáin 0-4, N Ó Cofaigh, S de Búrca 0-2 each, C Ó Cofaigh, J Ó Cathaláin, S Ó Meachair, G Ó Ceallacháin (0-1f) 0-1 each.
KJ Dunne 0-8 (0-6f), J Grace, J Moroney, T Boland, M Hutchinson 0-1 each.
G Ó Ceallacháin (Glen Rovers); E Swan Kent (St Vincent’s), R Ó Buachalla (Glen Rovers), S Ó Laocha (St Vincent’s); C Ó Cuinneagáin (Glen Rovers), R Ó Caoinleáin (Na Piarsaigh), S Ó Meachair (Delanys); N Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Cathasaigh (Na Piarsaigh); D de Barra (Douglas), J Ó Cathaláin (Na Piarsaigh), S de Búrca (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Croidheáin (Glen Rovers), M Mac an Ghaill (Glen Rovers).
J Ó Donnabháin (Glen Rovers) for Ó Croidheáin (51), T Ó Murchú (Glen Rovers) for Ó Cathaláin (54).
S O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); R Hackett (Kiladangan), C Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), J Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg); J Grace (Burgess), H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), E Kelly (Kiladangan); R Horan (Portroe), C Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), D Sayers (Moneygall), T Boland (Kiladangan), É Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg); KJ Dunne (Toomevara), J Moroney (Ballina), R McGrath (Kiladangan).
J O’Dwyer (Kiladangan) for Sayers (half-time), C Cairns (Burgess) for Horan (36), A O’Callaghan (Portroe) for Moroney (39), M Hutchinson (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cairns (45-47), Hutchinson for Boland (48), C McKenna (Portroe) for McGrath (58).
J Murphy (Limerick).
App?
