Euan Murray's moment of magic means Thurles CBS share Harty cup spoils with St. Flannan's

TUS Dr. Harty Cup - Group 6 - Round 1

Thurles CBS 2-21

St. Flannans College 2-21

Deep in added-time All-Ireland minor medalist Euan Murray popped up with a vital point to ensure Thurles drew with a powerful St. Flannan's in the Group 6 Round 1 Harty cup game. 

The Tipperary side showed great character to salvage what looked like a lost cause with ten minutes to go at Cappamore.

A strong, sharp St. Flannan's had found their worth in the second half and looked to have buried the Thurles challenge but a late goal from Cormac Fitzpatrick from a close in free followed by Murray's last gasp equaliser ensured the trek home was a more pleasant one than looked likely five minutes before. 

Both teams had players involved in county finals at the weekend with their club teams and it meant that some players were leggy and not as dominant as expected. 

It was nip and tuck from the off. Ten seconds in, Kieran Rossiter hit the first point for Thurles as teams traded scores with Robbie Ryan levelling the game up at 0-3 a piece after six minutes. 

Then Jack Hayes broke through and a spinning ball took a slight deflection but the green flag was raised so Thurles were in the driving seat despite Darragh Kennedy and Ronan Kilroy hurling well for St. Flannan's.

Kieran Rossiter and David Costigan points meant Thurles held a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage after 14 minutes of action however James Hegarty was hurling well in defence for the Clare side. 

Flannan's showed real quality then firing off some great scores and bringing the game back to level terms before a strong flurry of scores by Cormac Fitzpatrick, Dan McCahey and David Costigan meant Thurles stayed slightly ahead at the break on a 1-11 to 0-12 scoreline. 

St. Flannan's had their chances and with Jamesie O'Connor and Tony Kelly on the sideline they were always going to look to exploit any weakness or opening in the Thurles defence. 

On the restart Thurles hit one point before Flannan's took control. A Cormac Fitzpatrick point left  it 1-12 to 0-12 but St. Flannan's struck 1-4 unanswered to turn the game on it's head and left the score 1-16 to 1-12 in the Clare side's favour by the 9th minute of the second half. 

In fairness to Thurles they responded well. Other teams might have wilted but they rose to the challenge. Ryne Bargery sprung from the bench to score a needed point midway through the half to bring it back to a three point game.

Kieran Rossiter, Evan Morris and Ryne Bargery again brought it back to 1-17 a piece with 12 to play. Then Flannan's punched hard again before Cillian Minogue and Cormac Fitzpatrick responded. 

For St. Flannan's, Daniel Costelloe was fouled while making a run towards the goal with eight to go as Harry Doherty levelled it up at 1-18 a piece. Doherty was in good form throughout and the game was on a knife edge. 

St. Flannan's half forwards soloed towards the Thurles goal with every opportunity in the second half and Ronan Kilroy took off on a run with 54 on the clock which ended up with Conor Ralph tapping home a goal from close range on a breaking ball. 

The Thurles goal arrived as full time approached and in the end Murray pointed to calm nerves of the Tipperary contingent who now face Tralee in the three-team group. 

The grandstand finish ensured both teams went home confident that they could make inroads from now on into the competition.

Afterwards St. Flannan's boss Tony Kelly said "that Thurles got a run on us last year and ran out deserving seven or eight point winners but this year I thought our backs were excellent and I thought our forwards were very good but probably our wide count cost us.

"We had probably 14 or 15 scoring chances we missed but that is all things to be working on," the All-Ireland winning captain said.

Thurles management were pleased too with Stephen Maher saying it was a fair result: "I suppose we are happy to come away with a draw we wouldn't be happy with a lot of aspects of the first half performance in particular as I thought we were way off where we need to be to be competing at this level but we showed great character.

"As we said to them afterwards we went down four points on two occasions in the second half and managed to claw it back so a lot to improve on but happy with the draw to be honest." 

Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Dan McCahey (Loughmore Castleiney, 0-2), Evan Morris (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-1), Jack Lahart (Holycross Ballycahill); Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey Borris), Euan Murray (Durlas Óg, 0-1), Toby Corbett (Upperchurch Drombane); Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Óg, 0-3); David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris, 0-2), Robbie Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-2), Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch, 1-7, 1-5f); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey Borris, 1-0), Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), Cillian Minogue (Durlas Óg, 0-2).

Subs used: Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan Dualla, 0-2) for T Ryan (42); James Butler (Sean Treacys) for K Cantwell (46).

St. Flannan's: Micheal O'Coilleain (St. Josephs Doora Barefield); Conor Daly (St. Josephs Doora Barefield, 0-2), Joseph Casey (Kilmaley), Sean McNamara (Clooney Quin); James Cullinan (Ruan, 0-1), James Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona, 0-1), Robert Loftus (Éire Óg Ennis); Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea, 0-2), Dara Kennedy (Ballyea, 0-2); Harry Doherty (Clarecastle, 0-8, 0-7f), Neil Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona, 0-1), Ronan Kilroy (Banner, 0-4); Darragh Ball (St. Josephs Doora Barefield), Conor Ralph (Clarecastle, 2-0), Marco Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis).

Subs used: Patrick Finneran (Clooney Quin) for D Ball (42); James O'Dwyer (Éire Óg Ennis) for Cleary (47); Paul O'Connell (Clarecastle, 0-1) for N Hegarty (53).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)