Dunne hat-trick helps Nenagh CBS to an impressive opening win in Harty Cup

TUS Dr Harty Cup - Group 2 - Round 1

Nenagh CBS 4-20

Midleton CBS 1-18

Nenagh CBS got the defence of their Dr Harty Cup title off to the most impressive of starts on Thursday afternoon, overcoming a talented Midleton CBS outfit by eleven points in a hugely entertaining Group 2 opener in Kilmallock.

The defending champions have lost a huge number of players from last year's title-winning panel, but the emergence of 16-year-old KJ Dunne is certainly cause for optimism, with the Toomevara youngster producing a sensational first-half hat-trick to lay the foundations for victory.

Dunne was simply unplayable at times, scoring 3-2 in the opening half alone, with his pace, direct running and eye for goal causing untold problems for a Midleton defence that simply couldn't contain him.

This was no ordinary opposition either. Midleton captured the Dean Ryan Cup at this age group two years ago and arrived with plenty of quality, something they demonstrated during an absorbing contest in which they briefly threatened to turn the tables on Nenagh.

However, the defending champions showed their character and strength in depth during the final quarter, with their substitutes making a considerable impact as they eventually pulled clear.

The tone was set inside 60 seconds when Dunne gathered possession, put the ears back and accelerated past the Midleton defence before burying a brilliant individual goal.

Remarkably, Midleton responded immediately from the resulting puck-out through Cormac Deane, son of Cork legend Joe, who produced a similarly impressive run through the heart of the Nenagh defence before firing into the roof of Shane O'Meara's net.

It was a breathtaking start to proceedings, and the quality of hurling rarely dipped throughout an excellent opening half.

Nenagh subsequently established a 1-7 to 1-4 advantage inside twelve minutes, with Dunne adding two points, while his Tipperary minor hurling teammates from this year, Rian McGrath and Josh Moroney were also prominent.

However, Midleton hit a purple patch between the 12th and 17th minutes, with Finn Connaughton, Ben Geary, Deane and Tom A Walsh all finding the target as Nenagh struggled to contain their opponents' shooting from distance.

That four-point burst brought the Cork school level, but Dunne was about to produce another moment of brilliance.

In the 19th minute, Rian McGrath initially looked certain to goal when he found himself in possession close to the Midleton square, only to be brilliantly hooked by a defender.

The breaking ball fell to Dunne, who somehow found a route through the bodies in front of him before drilling a low shot through goalkeeper Tom C Walsh's legs.

It was a brilliant opportunistic finish, but Midleton didn’t buckle, with Deane and Sam Ring responding with points.

Incredibly, Dunne almost completed his hat-trick in the 24th minute when he burst in from the left and batted towards goal, only for a Midleton defender to produce an outstanding goalline clearance.

Tom Boland and Ring subsequently traded scores before Moroney edged Nenagh further ahead following excellent work from substitute James O'Dwyer.

However, Dunne would have the final say before the interval.

Gathering a long delivery in the 28th minute, the Toomevara youngster stood up his marker before accelerating straight through the centre of the Midleton defence and whipping home his third goal.

It was an extraordinary individual first-half performance, and one that helped Nenagh establish a 3-9 to 1-11 half-time advantage.

Despite that, the game was far from over.

Midleton emerged with renewed purpose after the restart and completely turned proceedings on their head, exploiting Nenagh's difficulties in the middle third.

Five unanswered points from Evan Connolly, two Ben Geary frees, Ring and Alfie Hennessey propelled the Cork school into the lead after 37 minutes.

Nenagh were suddenly at sixes and sevens, with Midleton finding far too much space to shoot from distanc around the middle third. However, the defending champions responded impressively.

James O'Dwyer's introduction was beginning to pay considerable dividends, and the Kiladangan youngster landed a settling point to restore parity before McGrath and substitute Charlie Cairns added further scores.

McGrath then produced another excellent individual effort in the 46th minute to push Nenagh three points clear, although Midleton goalkeeper Walsh responded with his second long-range free to keep the contest alive.

With ten minutes remaining, though, Nenagh finally took off for home.

Dunne, who had been closely monitored by a Midleton defence dropping additional bodies back to curb his influence, began operating further outfield and once again became hugely influential.

He converted a free after Charlie Kennedy was fouled in the 51st minute, before O'Dwyer and a brace from Boland helped Nenagh establish a commanding 3-17 to 1-17 advantage approaching the closing five minutes.

The energy of Nenagh's substitutes was now proving decisive, with Midleton struggling to match the defending champions' intensity.

Dunne added another free, while Eanna Tucker and substitute Michael Hutchinson also found the target as Nenagh continued to stretch their advantage.

There was still time for one final flourish in injury time. Excellent link-up play involving Dunne and Adam O'Callaghan created an opening for Charlie Kennedy, whose effort was brilliantly saved by Walsh.

However, Boland reacted quickest to the rebound and swept the ball home from close range to put a deserved gloss on the scoreline.

It completed an emphatic opening victory for a young Nenagh side, who demonstrated that despite losing so many established players from last season, there is still an abundance of talent coming through the ranks.

Scorers: Nenagh CBS: KJ Dunne (3-4, 0-2f), Tom Boland 1-3, Josh Moroney (0-3, 0-1f), Rian McGrath, Eanna Tucker 0-3 each, James O’Dwyer 0-2, Michael Hutchinson, Charlie Cairns 0-1 each.

Midleton CBS: Ben Geary (0-4, 0-3f), Cormac Deane 1-2, Sam Ring 0-4, Tom C Walsh 0-2f, Alfie Hennessey 0-2, Conor Ronayne, Evan Connolly, Finn Connaughton, Tom A Walsh all 0-1 each

Nenagh CBS: Shane O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Ruairi Hackett (Kiladangan), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), James Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg); Johnny Grace (Burgess), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eoin Kelly (Kiladangan); Robert Horan (Portroe), Tom Boland (Kiladangan); Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg), Dylan Sayers (Moneygall), Josh Moroney (Ballina); Rian McGrath (Kiladangan), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs used: James O’Dwyer (Kiladangan) for Horan (24); Charlie Cairns (Burgess) for Sayers (39); Adam O’Callaghan (Portroe) for Moroney (43); Michael Hutchinson (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for McGrath (56); Craig McKenna (Portroe) for Heffernan (62).

Midleton CBS: Tom C Walsh (Aghada); Conor Dehenny (Lisgoold), Rian O’Connell (Fr O’Neill’s), Daniel Guiney (Lisgoold); Finn Connaughton (Kiltha Óg), Senan Carroll (Midleton), Finn Cahill (Midleton); Alfie Hennessey (Midleton), Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill); Evan Connolly (Kiltha Óg), Cormac Deane (Killeagh), Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill); Conor Ronayne (Kiltha Óg), Dean Murphy (Lisgoold), Ben Geary (Killeagh).

Subs used: John O’Sullivan (Midleton) for D Murphy (43); Daniel Sheahan (St Coleman’s) for Ronayne (53); Ben Cooney (Kiltha Óg) for Connolly (59).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick)