Cashel Community School just pipped at the final post in their Harty Cup opener

TUS Dr Harty Cup - Group 6 - Round 1

Cashel Community School 0-20

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaigh 1-18

It is hard to beat the Harty Cup for drama and skill and this latest encounter between the holders Cashel Community School and the up-and-coming northsiders from Cork Gaelcholaiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaigh, was no exception as they played out a thrilling encounter in Banteer earlier.

Right until the final whistle this one was in the balance but when the whistle went the wild celebrations from the Cork side and their supporters lit up the dreary, damp afternoon for them as they secured a one-point win despite Cashel putting everything they had into the battle. 

The group is still there for the taking the defending champions will feel, but it will be a nervy watch now to see how the Cork school get on against Our Lady's Templemore in the next group game, before the Tipperary derby between Cashel and Our Lady's Templemore is played to see what two of three in the group will progress to the knockout stages. 

The first half today was bossed by the Tipperary school, the second by the Cork lads who went up a gear of intensity with every roar from the vocal Cork crowd as the half wore on.

In the end it was like any other Tipperary and Cork clash in hurling, fierce, intense, nervy and jittery at the same time with just a score between the teams at full time when the Seán Óg Ó hAilpín coached Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh  had their noses in front after sprinting clear in the second half.

Afterwards Cashel CS manager Brendan Ryan told the Tipperary Star he knew it would be a close game: 

"The second half the tide turned and we were struggling for scores but North Mon were able to get them. They started great in the second half and showed intensity we knew they would.

"They had a lot of Glen Rovers players there that won the county minor final on Monday night there in Cork. We knew they are a quality team and they showed it today." 

The game started off with the defending champions quickly finding their range a minute into it, despite the late venue change and the 4G surface. 

Two quick Shane Buckley frees got Cashel CS off the mark before a reply from DJ Ó Cofaigh for the Cork side but Cashel pushed on with the impressive Oisín O’Donoghue and Adam Daly pushed Cashel 0-4 to 0-1 up. 

They kept that lead throughout the half with O’Donoghue and Buckley steady and assured ensuring Cashel led 0-9 to 0-4 after 20 minutes.

The half back line, with Shane Buckley at six and Dylan Fogarty always alert and clever on the ball, were working the ball up the field quickly and often for Cashel. 

DJ Ó Cofaigh and Ross Ó Súilleabháin kept Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh in the game winning ball and suggesting they could muster a challenge but at this stage Cashel were in control in many sectors.

The nagging thing was that they weren't taking their goal or point chances and hit a number of wides they would rue by full time. 

The Tipperary school went in 0-11 to 0-6 up but will feel on reflection they should have made hay while the sun shined. 

The restart was a different story and different characters took over. A point was fired over the bar before people had time to look up from their phones to realise the half had started.

Then another point before the key score of the game. Seán Pól Cuc, who lorded the middle in the second half, sent a ball arrowed with pace to the sharp DJ Ó Cofaigh and with a swivel and turn, the roar went up as he had fired in a goal to level the game on 38 minutes. 

Cashel just didn't start the second half until too late. Ó hÉigeartaigh and Ó Súilleabháin added points too and by the time Oisín O’Donoghue pointed for the Tipp side, the tide had turned.

Even though Cashel were only two points down they were battling the momentum, the vocal Cork crowd and they just couldn't get back the air of dominance they had in the first half. 

DJ Ó Cofaigh and Cork U20 All-Ireland medalist Ross Ó Súilleabháin were going to town and couldn't be stopped.

They hit four between them midway through the half to leave it 1-17 to 0-14 before Oisín O’Donoghue responded with four points for Cashel broken up by an Ó Súilleabháin point.

The last from O’Donoghue arrived from a free in the 59th minute with just a minute of normal time remaining.

Adam Daly struck a late point but it was the Cork school that secured a massive win in the end.

Overall Cashel bossed the first half but the Cork side showed they have been working their socks off in training and they got their rewards on the field.

The Harty Cup is up and running for the new season and it is all to play for. 

This group is wide open but now Cashel will need to be at their best for the Tipperary derby against Our Lady's Templemore.

The focus will move on quickly with the hope that lessons are learned. 

Cashel CS: O O’Donoghue 0-10 (0-6f), S Buckley 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 65), B O’Donoghue, A Daly 0-2 each, S Kennedy, D Fogarty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh: R Ó Súilleabháin 0-9 (0-5f), DJ Ó Cofaigh 1-4, K Ó Gealbháin 0-2, SP Cúc, L Ó Muirthile, C Ó Súilleabháin 0-1 each.

CASHEL CS: Tommy Breen (Boherlahan Dualla); Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla), Ciaran Byrne (Golden Kilfeackle), Noah O’Flynn (Fethard); Gavin Dalton (Golden Kilfeackle), Shane Buckley- joint captain (Knockavilla Kickhams), Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan Dualla); Jack Dalton (Golden Kilfeackle), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Kickhams); Shane Cooney (Clerihan),  Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Pat Colville (Rosegreen); Brian O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Seamus Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore), Colin Bourke (Rosegreen).

Subs: Padraig Dalton (Golden Kilfeackle) for Bourke (16, injured), Charlie Walsh (Fethard) for P Dalton (35, injured), Sam Hall (Golden Kilfeackle) for G Dalton (47).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AN MHAINISTIR THUAIGH: J Ó Gabhláin (Glen Rovers); G Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Maonaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), C Mac Uidhir (Glen Rovers), E Ó Súilleabháin (Glen Rovers); SP Cúc (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Whitechurch); C Ó Néill (St Vincent’s), K Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh), B Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (Na Piarsaigh); R Ó Súilleabháin, DJ Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: C Ó Súilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh) for B Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtáin (28, injured), D Ó Conaill (Whitechurch) for Ó Gealbháin.

Referee: M Sexton (Limerick).