Thurles CBS produce impressive performance to down St Colmans in Harty Cup opener

TUS Dr Harty Cup - Group 2 - Round 1

Thurles CBS 1-15     

St Colmans Fermoy 0-13

By John O’Shea 

Thurles CBS, last year’s defeated finalists, got this year’s TUS Dr. Harty Cup campaign up and running with a solid five points victory over St. Colmans Fermoy at a rain-soaked Bansha on Wednesday afternoon. 

Heavy overnight and early morning rain cleared off, giving way to a persistent drizzle throughout the game, with the Thurles side adapting better to the heavy underfoot conditions. 

Cormac Fitzpatrick was particularly impressive throughout this game, not only with his impeccable free taking, but with his hooking and blocking and putting himself about in general. 

The full back line took everything that was thrown at them, especially during the final quarter when Colmans went in search of the goal that was required to salvage something from the game. Padraig O’Dwyer, the lone player to start last year’s final, put in a big shift and steadied the ship throughout.

The forwards, as a unit, kept up the pressure throughout on the Colmans defence, while also drawing scorable frees. The Fermoy side led by the minimum at the break, having chipped in with two late scores before the break, 0-10 to 0-9.

The game was won and lost during the third quarter where Thurles outscored their rivals by 1-5 to nil to lead by seven, the all-important goal coming from Liam Corcoran when he capitalised on a Colmans defensive error.

The Fermoy side threw everything at Thurles for the closing fifteen minutes plus added time but were unable to break down a solid defence with Kieran Purcell and Eugene O’Dwyer being impressive.

Cormac Fitzpatrick got the scoreboard moving when he put over from a placed ball at the village end after two minutes. Liam Og Hegarty brought the Cork side back on level terms within a minute, also from a placed ball. 

With the treacherous underfoot conditions, the players found the going tough and frees were at a premium. In this regard, Fitzpatrick was unerring, putting over four in the opening quarter, cancelling out points from Liam Og Hegarty, Sean O’Donoghue and James O’Brien.

The second quarter continued in the same vane with neither side gaining any real momentum. Points from James Doyle and a Fitzpatrick converted free eased Thurles into a two-point lead around the twentieth minute. 

Colmans pulled one back through James O’Brien and Sean O’Donoghue’s goal attempt was blocked down by Paul Noonan.  A goal at this stage would have lifted the Cork outfit.

Colmans finished the half the better side and hit three of the last four points to lead at the break, 0-10 to 0-9.

Thurles came out for the second half a different side and from the off took the game to Colmans while upping the intensity. Cormack Fitzpatrick converted two frees inside the opening five minutes and Liam Corcoran was causing problems to the Colmans defence. He was quick to react when Fitzpatrick failed to get his hurley under the placed ball and fired over his opening score after eight minutes. Immediately he was in for his second and drew a free in the next Thurles attack, which Fitzpatrick converted. 

The big break came for last year’s defeated finalists as the three-quarter mark approached. Corcoran was again putting pressure on the defence and was on hand to capitalise on an error to fire home the only goal of the game. 

This gave Thurles a seven-point cushion as the game entered the final quarter. Colemans hit back with a converted free from Hegarty but were unable to break down the Thurles defence. Ciaran O’Leary and Sean O’Donoghue cut the deficit to four as the game headed towards added time but this was as close as they came. Cillian Minogue closed out the scoring in added time with a well-taken point and a deserved hard-earned victory. 

Scorers: Thurles CBS: Cormac Fitzpatrick (0-11, 0-9f), Liam Corcoran 1-2, James Doyle 0-1, Cillian Minogue 0-1.

St Colmans: Liam Og Hegarty 0-6f, Sean O’Donoghue (0-2, 0-1f), James O’Brien 0-2, Ciaran O’Leary 0-1, Brian Spillane 0-1, Liam Foley 0-1.

Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Paul Noonan (Thurles Sarsfields), Toby Corbett (Upperchurch Drombane), Kieran Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields); Keith Loughnane (Durlas Og), Padraig O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Eugene O’Dwyer (Boherlahan Dualla); Euan Murray (Durlas Og), David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); Darragh Carr (Sean Treacys), James Doyle (Holycross Ballycahill), Bill Flanigan (Moycarkey Borris); Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch), Darragh Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty), Liam Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris). 

Subs used: Cillian Minogue (Durlas Og) for Bill Flanigan (51); Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan Dualla) for James Doyle (56); Cillian Cantwell for David Costigan (60).

St Colmans: Ronan O’Riordan (Bride Rvs.); Liam Cronin (Fermoy), Aodhan Hickey (Ballyduff Upper), Brian McGrath (Fermoy); Oisin Fitzgerald (St. Catherines), James O’Brien (Fermoy), Eoin Sykes (Ballyhooley); Tom McGrath (Harbour Rvs), Liam Og Hegarty (Kilworth); Liam Foley (Watergrasshill), Cian O’Donoghue (St. Catherines), Sean O’Donohue (St. Catherines); Brian Spillane (Castlelyons), Brendan Hickey (Ballyduff Upper), Ciaran O’Leary (Watergrasshill). 

Subs used: Fionn Lardney (Fermoy) for Brian Spillane (40); Tom Maher (Unattached) for Cian O’Donoghue (49); Darragh O’Brien (Fermoy) for Liam Cronin (53).

Referee: Andrew Purcell (Tipperary)