Our Ladys Templemore dumped out of Dean Ryan Cup by classy Cork opponents

TUS Dean Ryan Cup U17A Hurling Quarter-Final

Our Ladys Templemore 1-23

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 5-16 

By Ed Donnelly

Four goals by corner-forward Callum Coffey proved decisive as Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG withstood a second-half comeback by Our Ladys Templemore in a high-scoring Dean Ryan Cup Quarter-Final played at Fethard Town Park on Friday. 

Our Ladys won the toss and elected to play against the strong wind. Within a minute of the throw-in, a long ball by Craig O’Sullivan was deflected by Templemore goalie Cathal Ryan and Callum Coffey hit in the rebound to the back of the net to give Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG a great start. 

Our Lady’s were not deterred by this setback and for the rest of the first quarter, traded points with the Cork side as Liam Dunphy was proving very accurate from placed balls. With three points between the teams, the AG struck for the second goal in the 15th minute. 

Luke Hurley made a good run through the heart of the Templemore defense before passing off to Coffey who made no mistake for his second goal – 2-5 to 0-5. Seven minutes later, Hurley set off on another good solo run and this time, passed to Gavin O’Callaghan who raised the green flag - 3-7 to 0-8. 

As the game entered first half stoppage time, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG would add another goal with Callum Coffey again on target to complete a first half hat-trick of goals and leave the Cork school in front by 4-10 to 0-10 at the interval. Our Ladys had scored just one point from play in the opening half. 

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG extended their lead to 10 points after 37 minutes with two points from play by Craig O’Sullivan before Templemore started to make inroads into the deficit. With Dunphy chipping away with pointed frees (he would score 18 points from placed balls), helped by a 41st-minute goal from Philip O’Dwyer, Our Lady’s trailed by 5 points after 47 minutes - 1-17 to 4-13. 

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG needed to respond and it was Callum Coffey who once again stepped up to the mark. Playing up front on his own, Coffey scored 1-1 in the space of three minutes, and heading into the closing stages, the Cork school were back in command, leading by eight points - 5-14 to 1-18.

While Our Ladys’ outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-2 in the last 10 minutes, goals were required to have any chance and despite Templemore’s best efforts, the Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG defense held out for an impressive five-point victory. 

The Cork school now awaits the winners of De La Salle of Waterford and St. Flannans of Ennis in the Semi-Final to be played after the mid-term break. 

Our Ladys Templemore: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore Castleiney); Kinnian O’Brien (JK Brackens), Tom Bohan (Loughmore Castleiney), Dan Coffey (JK Brackens); Darragh Hoare (Drom & Inch), Niall Delaney (JK Bracken), James Ryan (JK Brackens); Jack Bevans (Borris-Ileigh, 0-2), Chris Dunne (Moyne Templetuohy); Sean Burke (JK Brackens), Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens, 0-3), Liam Dunphy (Roscrea, 0-18f), Jack Burke (JK Brackens), Ryan Loughnane (JK Brackens), Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane, 1-0)

Subs used: Jack Noonan (JK Brackens) for Hoare (41).

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: Shane McCarthy (Glen Rovers); Jack Ó Conchúir (Na Piarsaigh), Ryan Cronin (Na Piarsaigh), Stiofán Ó Laocha (St. Vincents); Ruairí Ó Caoinleáoin (Na Piarsaigh), Josh Brosnan (Glen Rovers), Jayden Ó Criagáin (Na Piarsaigh); Shay O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh), Nathan Coffey (Na Piarsaigh); Gavin O’Callaghan (Glen Rovers, 1-8, 0-8f), Evan McGuckin (Glen Rovers, 0-2), Robert Buckley (Glen Rovers); Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh, 4-1), Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh, 0-4), Luke Hurley (Na Piarsaigh, 0-1)

Subs used: Naoise Ó Dálaigh (Whitechurch) for O’Neill (54m)

Referee: Adam Kiely (Limerick)