True grit on display from Our Lady's Templemore who secure last eight Harty Cup berth

TUS Dr Harty Cup - Group 4 - Round 3

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-17

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG 1-15

Our Lady’s Templemore onlookers were made to sweat in Fethard on Wednesday afternoon after the Tipperary school struck four points in the final five minutes in a pulsating winner takes all round 3 Dr Harty Cup clash.

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Trailing by two points and floundering in the wake of a well-organised North Mon onslaught in the second half, who had turned the game on its head after trailing by five at half-time, the Templemore school showed huge grit to eke out the victory, with Borris-Ileigh’s Jack Bevans the hero with three of those four points to seal knockout hurling after Christmas.

Played in the 4G pitch in Fethard Town Park, the underfoot conditions were expectant, but the strong breeze present played its part as Our Lady’s enjoyed its favour in the first half and looked the more rounded team.

Despite Sean Óg Ó hAilpin’s charges taking a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside eight minutes, Our Lady’s settled into the game, hitting 1-7 without reply in the next 16 minutes with the goal a well taken finish by Sean Walsh who was fed in on goal by Dan Coffey with the former rattling a one handed strike to the back of the net.

That 21st-minute goal came in the midst of some good scores with Jack Bevans' accuracy from placed balls apparent at that early stage, the Borris-Ileigh player hitting four first-half frees while Shay Gleeson, James Ryan and Cian Broderick all found the target in the scoring burst.

At the other end, North Mon were heavily reliant on frees from Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin who hit four placed balls out of their 0-7 first half total, while Cork county minor star Craig Ó Suilleabhain proving to be their main source of joy from open play with two points as they trailed the Tipp school 1-9 to 0-7 at the break.

However, it was far from an unassailable lead that Our Lady’s had built up as North Mon would have the joy of the strengthening breeze in the second half, and how they made hay with it in the early exchanges of the restart.

The Cork City school had levelled the game within three minutes, with Lucas Ó Muirthile in the 32nd minute in between a Craig O Suilleabhain free and an equalising score from centre back Josh Ó Brosnachai, who had the Our Lady’s players stunned.

The early change in tack from North Mon was making it very difficult for the Our Lady’s team to make hay in attack as the Cork school completely retreated back the field, allowing Niall Delaney to canter forward as far as the 45 before engaging, and with little options, the ensuing deliveries were being mopped up time and again.

This tactic was working a treat, feeding the North Mon effort while simultaneously draining Our Lady’s confidence, but they were still managing to manufacture frees for Jack Bevans, and his sharpshooting had them in front by 1-13 to 1-11 by the 44th minute with the final quarter set to be a nail-biter.

North Mon though, struck for home in the next ten minutes by hitting four points in a row up to the 56th minute mark, with Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin hitting two placed balls over the lat, which were followed by leading scores from Callum Ó Cofaigh and Craig O Suilleabhain that sent the Cork supporters mad. 

North Mon leading 1-17 to 1-15 with time running out for Our Lady’s.

In fairness, the response was emphatic from Our Lady’s with big plays ensuing from the Tipp school, winning frees for the ever-reliable Jack Bevans to level the game a minute from time, before the sharpshooter hit his first from play in that flurry to send Our Lady’s in front as the clock ticked into added time.

Now, North Mon had to come out of their shape as they chased the game and were left frustrated by some strong defending after long deliveries into Our Lady’s defence; that frustration coming to a head when Trevor Ó Bruadair was sent off for a punch on Sean Burke in injury time, and with the advantage, Cian Broderick sealed the win with a late point off the back foot four minutes into the red.

The result sealed second place in Group 4 for Our Lady’s Templemore, who finished behind St Joseph’s Tulla in the standings, and will be in the draw for last eight in the coming weeks.

Scorers: Our Lady’s Templemore: Jack Bevans (0-11, 0-10f), Sean Walsh 1-0, Cian Broderick 0-2, Dan Coffey, Shay Gleeson, James Ryan, Padraic O’Shea all 0-1 each.

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG: Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin (0-7, 0-6f, 0-1 65), Craig O Suilleabhain (0-4, 0-2f), Lucas Ó Muirthile 1-0, Callum Ó Cofaigh 0-2, Josh Ó Brosnachain, Evan Mac Eochain 0-1 each.

Our Lady’s Templemore: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore Castleiney); Darragh Hoare (Drom & Inch), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens), Tommy Burke (JK Brackens); Mark Conroy (Drom & Inch), Shay Gleeson (Moneygall), Billy Collier (JK Brackens); Cian Broderick (JK Brackens), Sean Walsh (JK Brackens); Jack Marnell (JK Brackens), Philly O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane), Jack Bevans (Borris-Ileigh); Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens), James Ryan (Drom & Inch), Dan Coffey (JK Brackens).

Subs used: Kieran Martin (JK Brackens) for Collier (HT, inj); Sean Burke (JK Brackens) for J Ryan (58).

Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG: Josh Ó Gabhlain (Glen Rovers); Nathan Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), Ryan Ó Croinin (Na Piarsaigh), Darid Ó Duibhir Ó hArrach (Na Piarsaigh); Seán Jason Ó Dalaigh (St Vincent’s), Josh Ó Brosnachain (Glen Rovers), Trevor Ó Bruadair (St Vincent’s); Lucas Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh); Rolbeard Ó Buachalla (Glen Rovers); Evan Mac Eochain (Glen Rovers), Craig O Suilleabhain (Na Piarsaigh), Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin (Glen Rovers); Callum Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), Jack Ó Cathalain (Na Piarsaigh), Donal Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs used: Darragh De Barra (Douglas) for Ó Scannláin (44); Joe Ó Riain (Blarney) for Mac Eochain (58).