Nenagh CBS experiences helped to hold off Ardscoil Rís comeback in Harty Cup

HARTY CUP: Nenagh CBS learned the lessons from their first-round fade-out against St Flannan’s to fend off an Ardscoil Rís comeback at Newport. Picture: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Harty Cup Group 1 round 2: Nenagh CBS 4-18 Ardscoil Rís 1-19

Nenagh CBS learned the lessons from their first-round fade-out against St Flannan’s to fend off an Ardscoil Rís comeback at Newport.

The 2024 champions saw an eight-point lead pruned to three early in the second half, but well-timed goals got them home safely.

Patrick Ryan blasted 2-1 and Paul Cahalan clipped 1-4, while assisting one goal apiece. The inside graft of Ryan and Patrick Hackett was rewarded by drawing three frees each for Eoghan Doughan. The captain finished with 0-12 to his name (10 from placed balls).

“Our fellas learned a lot from the last day. We gave up a 10-point lead, we brought it back to three up with two minutes to go, and we still only drew the game,” said manager Donach O’Donnell.

“We were a bit sharper and finished it out fairly well. A lot of them are playing senior club in Tipperary and their experience pushed us through.

“Our bench is coming on all the time, we have more injuries back, and that helped us keep the intensity up.”

In a group of death containing four of the last seven Harty champions, Nenagh needed a win. Their work rate reflected that reality.

They showed their goal threat from the off. Joe O’Dwyer was denied an opening goal by Evan Ryan’s heroic diving block. Within 90 seconds, they raised the first green flag.

Paddy McCormack’s huge puck-out landed on the opposition 21, where Cahalan poked it into Patrick Ryan’s path to rifle home for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

Jack Cosgrove was Ardscoil’s leading light. He ended with 0-8, including six from play. Four of those were registered within 17 minutes to keep his school in touch.

Two more monster restarts from McCormack led to quickfire goal chances. O’Dwyer hit the sidenetting before Nenagh’s second major. Hackett and Hugo Healy were involved to free up Cahalan for the assured finish; 2-7 to 0-7.

The pacy O’Dwyer carved out a third goal opening, but was unlucky to see his shot hop wide.

A long-range Emmet Jones effort opened up an eight-point lead, although John O’Keeffe’s fourth free left it 2-11 to 0-10 at half-time.

Both sides called upon strong impact subs, with Nenagh introducing Billy O’Brien and Ardscoil springing Shane Waters.

The Limerick school nailed five of the first six points after the resumption to make it a one-score game. The momentum appeared in their corner.

O’Brien caught the subsequent puck-out, his third in quick succession, Ryan exchanged a one-two with Doughan, and Tucker found the far corner for a 3-12 to 0-15 advantage.

Doughan and Cahalan ensured Ardscoil wouldn’t get within four points again, despite the best efforts of joint-captain Conor Ryan and Cosgrove.

When Hackett laid off for Ryan’s second goal, a smart one-handed finish, Nenagh led by 11. However, Alex Kearns bounced a stoppage-time free to the net for an Ardscoil consolation.

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: E Doughan (0-12, 9 frees, 1 65); P Ryan (2-1); P Cahalan (1-4); É Tucker (1-0); E Jones (0-1).

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: J Cosgrove (0-8, 1 free, 1 65); J O’Keeffe (0-6, 6 frees); A Kearns (1-0 free); C Ryan (Ahane) (0-2); M McKenna, I O’Brien, S Waters (0-1 each).

NENAGH CBS: P McCormack (Moneygall); D Fogarty (Kiladangan), D McKelvey (Silvermines), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Jones (Nenagh Éire Óg), D O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs); H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), A Duff (Toomevara); É Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg), E Doughan (Moneygall, capt), P Cahalan (Burgess); J O’Dwyer (Burgess), P Hackett (Toomevara), P Ryan (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs: B O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg) for O’Dwyer (h-t), C Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for H Healy (37), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Duff (54), D O’Donoghue (Burgess) for Cleary (57), E Grace (Silvermines) for Doughan (59).

ARDSCOIL RÍS: M Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); E Hennessy (Patrickswell), J O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge), E Ryan (South Liberties); C Ryan (Adare), E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh, j-capt), A Fitzsimons (Na Piarsaigh); M McKenna (Pallasgreen), C Ryan (Ahane, j-capt); D O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), J Cosgrove (Ahane), J O’Connor (Ahane); J O’Keeffe (Murroe-Boher), R Horgan (Murroe-Boher), I O’Brien (Cratloe).

Subs: S Waters (Na Piarsaigh) for Horgan (h-t), A Kelly (Cratloe) for J O’Keeffe (52), A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Brien (54), J McMahon

(Clonlara) for E Ryan (60+2, inj).

Referee: T McGlinchey (Tipperary).