McCarthy-led comeback sends Nenagh CBS to first Harty Cup final in 12 years

TUS Dr Harty Cup Munster U19A Hurling Semi-Final

Nenagh CBS 2-18    

Charleville CBS 1-17

By John O’Shea 

Nenagh CBS are through to their first TUS Dr Harty Cup final since 2012 after overcoming Charleville CBS in a nail-biting finish at a cold and windy, but dry, Cappamore on Saturday afternoon. In a never-say-die effort they overcame a disastrous start to the game, which saw them trail by 1-4 to nil after nine minutes and by 1-12 to 1-6 at halftime.

However, a third-quarter man-of-the-match display from Darragh McCarthy got them right back in the game. The Toomevara man hit seven points without reply in the 15 minutes after the break, the first coming after just 9 seconds when put through by Mason Cawley. 

These seven unanswered points gave them the lead for the first time and what followed was a nerve-racking, nail-biting final quarter. As the clock headed towards 60 minutes and the sides locked at 1-16 each, following a Chris Dunne converted free for the Cork side, Nenagh were awarded a free from around the 45 at the open side of the pitch. 

Darragh McCarthy struck what looked like a legitimate point following the free. The point was initially given by the umpire but was subsequently disallowed by the referee following intervention by the linesman. The consensus by all in the non-existent press box was that the point should have stood.

Following the puck out Gareth Gleeson was fouled around the 45 and goalkeeper Kieran Murphy landed his third point of the afternoon to put Charleville back in front, three minutes into added time. Simon Grace found corner-back Gavin McGrath out under the stand and the Kiladangan man’s long delivery into the goalmouth was fumbled by the goalkeeper, leaving substitute Darragh Treacy to get the loose ball over the line. Nenagh finished out the game in style as McCarthy converted his thirteenth point of the afternoon before Eoghan Doughan had the final say when firing over to close out the scoring as Nenagh advanced to the final. 

The North Cork side won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the elements which was blowing away from the dressing room end of the ground. They hit some early wides before Chris Dunne and Gareth Gleeson put them two up by the sixth minute. 

Nenagh were finding it hard to get into the game and were really playing second fiddle for the opening fifteen minutes. Further points from Chris Dunne and Turlough O’Neill gave the Cork side a four-point advantage before a big run from Eoin O’Mahony put Chris Dunne through on goal and his rasping low shot gave Simon Grace no chance.

Darragh McCarthy opened the North Tipp side's account after ten minutes when he converted his first free of the day following a foul on Eoghan Doughan. Charleville hit back with four unanswered points in the next five minutes from Eoin O’Mahony (2), Joe Hickey and Chris Dunne who was proving to be a huge thorn in the side of the Nenagh defence. 

They now led by ten points, 1-8 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter and were good value for this lead, with their half-back line particularly impressive with Sean Bresnan and Bill Collins to the fore.

Nenagh came more into the game for the second quarter and began to take the game to the opposition. Darragh McCarthy, who had started at full forward, now moved outfield and began to impose himself on proceedings. 

He converted two further points on either side of a Danny Quinn minor which followed a good move involving Aodhan O’Connor and Eoghan Doughan. This was probably Nenagh’s first goal chance but Quinn’s shot went over.  Jack Mulcahy then fired over having been put through by Mason Cawley as Nenagh exerted pressure on the Charleville defence. 

The Nenagh goal, when it came four minutes from the break, was a little on the fortuitous side as Aodhan O’Connor latched on to a shot from Austin Duff, which fell short, with the Cork goalie slow to advance. McCarthy followed up with his fourth point before Chris Dunne added two in added time to leave the halftime score, Charleville CBS 1-12, Nenagh CBS 1-6, a six-point difference.

The general consensus at the break was that this six-point deficit was not insurmountable and this assertion would eventually prove to be correct,

Nenagh emerged for the second half with fire in their bellies. Mason Cawley won the breaking ball at the throw-in, cut through the centre and passed to Darragh McCarthy who fired over with just nine seconds on the clock. This set the tone for the next fifteen minutes, and from a Nenagh perspective, was a joy to behold.  

They totally closed down the Charleville attack and also put huge pressure on their inside backline. McCarthy was now in his element, firing over the next six points, including one from open play after been set up by Jack Doran. His eleventh point of the game on 45 minutes eased Nenagh in front for the first time in the game.

Goalkeeper Murphy levelled the game and from then until the end, it was score on score. Eoghan Doughan got a good score which was cancelled out by Dunne for Charleville. Darragh McCarthy and Kieran Murphy swapped points as the sides were level for the fourth time with five minutes of normal time remaining. In a good Nenagh move, McCarthy turned provider and Austin Duff eased them back in front before Chris Dunne hit his ninth point of the game, to equalise with two minutes of the sixty remaining.

As the game entered added time, Nenagh had what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate point disallowed following a McCarthy free. Three minutes into added time Kieran Murphy eased Charleville back in front from a placed ball and the game appeared to have slipped from Nenagh. 

However, Nenagh had other ideas and Jack Doran’s long delivery was fumbled by the goalkeeper and the loose ball was swept over the line by Silvermine’s Darragh Treacy. This goal seemed to deflate the Charleville boys and Nenagh added two more points to record a four point victory and a place in the final where the will play Ardscoil Rís of Limerick.

Nenagh CBS: Simon Grace (Ballina); Conor Grace (Burgess), Cian Connolly (Nenagh Eire Og), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan); Jack Doran (Toomevara), Jake Hackett (Toomevara), Andy Hoolan (Moneygall); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, 0-13, 0-9f); Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs, 0-1), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og), Zack Keller (Nenagh Eire Og); Aodhan O’Connor (Nenagh Eire Og, 1-0), Danny Quinn (Silvermines, 0-1), Eoghan Doughan, Moneygall, 0-2). 

Subs used: Austin Duff (Toomevara, 0-1) for Zack Keller (23);  Darragh Treacy (Silvermines, 1-0) for Jack Mulcahy (47).

Charleville CBS: Kieran Murphy (Newtownshandrum, 0-3f); Niall Tobin (Bruree), Tom McCarthy (Newtownshandrum), Fionn O’Sullivan (Ballyhea); Sean Bresnan (Charleville), Bill Collins (Newtownshandrum), Sean Byrne (Ballyhea); Robert Troy (Newtownshandrum), Turlough O’Neill (Newtownshandrum, 0-1); Liam O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Eoin O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum, 0-2), Chris Dunne (Dromina, 1-9, 0-5f); Gareth Gleeson (Charleville, 0-1), Joe Hickey (Ballyhea, 0-1), Pat Daly (Ballyhea).

Subs used: Billy Kiely (Charleville) for Pat Daly (54).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon, Limerick)