Doherty goal sends St Flannan's through as Ardscoil go out of Harty Cup

Harry Doherty of St Flannans struck the winner Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Harty Cup: St. Flannan’s College 1-19 Ardscoil Rís 0-18 

It took a last-minute Harry Doherty goal for St. Flannan’s to finally clinch their place in the Harty Cup quarter-finals at the expense of their obstinate neighbours Ardscoil Ris in Clarecastle.

Despite leading from the fifth minute to the finish, last year’s finalists found it difficult to shake off their perennial rivals who craved a winning group finish to save their championship lives.

Trailing by five entering the final quarter, John O’Connor led the Limerick revival, winning two frees for Alex Kearns to convert before arrowing over a third himself from an acute angle to slash the arrears to just two by the 58th minute at 0-19 to 0-17.

However, when the need was greatest, it was St. Flannan’s talismanic forward Doherty that inevitably provided the inspiration. Relishing the opportunity to impress on his own home ground, the Clare Under-20 fielded a Leon Talty puckout on the right wing and cut inside to unleash an unstoppable shot to the left corner.

In truth, it was a fully merited victory as St. Flannan’s set the pace from the outset. Backed by the conditions, Harry Doherty and Eoin O’Connor fired braces to carve out a 0-6 to 0-3 opening quarter lead.

Alex Kearns was unfortunate to see a flowing counter-attack move thwarted by home goalkeeper Leon Talty, but with Jack Cosgrove and John O’Connor to the fore, Ardscoil would lower the arrears to the minimum by the 20-minute mark.

Needing to build up a half-time cushion, St. Flannan’s upped the ante for the remainder of the half, outscoring the visitors by 0-8 to 0-4 thanks to a pair of points each from Patrick Finneran and Graham Ball and a further trio through Doherty at 0-14 to 0-9 by the break.

Now aided by the wind, Ardscoil produced a rousing third quarter to reduce the arrears to just two as Malachy McKenna, David O’Keeffe and John O’Keeffe’s early points were bolstered by two Alex Kearns frees at 0-16 to 0-14.

St. Flannan’s were struggling for scores but did get a superior impact off the bench as Ben Talty and John Barry both got off the mark to restore a five point cushion by the 47th minute.

A John O’Connor led comeback was interrupted by a lengthy melee entering the final ten minutes. But while Ardscoil got to within striking distance, they would be ultimately sunk by that opportunist goal from Harry Doherty that powered St. Flannan’s into the last eight and ensured a premature group exit for Ardscoil for the first time since 2019.

Scorers for St. Flannan’s College: H Doherty 1-6 (4f, 1’65); P Finneran 0-3; E O’Connor, G Ball, R Ralph 0-2 each; I Hassett, D McNamara, B Talty, J Barry 0-1 each 

Scorers for Ardscoil Ris: A Kearns 0-6 (6f); J Cosgrove, J O’Connor 0-3 each: C Ryan (Ahane) (0-2 each); M McKenna, D O’Keeffe, J O’Keeffe, G O’Brien 0-1 each 

ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE: L Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); C Hill (Ballyea), S McNamara (Clooney-Quin), D Murrihy (Inagh-Kilnamona); C Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), J Cullinan (Ruan), D Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); G Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), I Hassett (Clooney-Quin); H Doherty (Clarecastle), P Finneran (Clooney-Quin), R Ralph (Clarecastle); D McNamara (Clooney-Quin), T O’Connor (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), E O’Connor (Ballyea) 

Subs: J Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Hassett (36), B Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for E. O’Connor (39), D Mahon (Clooney-Quin) for T. O’Connor (45), D Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for G. Ball (60) 

ARDSCOIL RIS: M Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); E Hennessy (Patrickswell), E Ryan (South Liberties), C Ryan (Adare); A Fitzsimons (Na Piarsaigh), E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), J O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); D O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), C Ryan (Ahane); J Cosgrove (Ahane), P McDonagh (Na Piarsaigh), J O’Connor (Ahane); J O’Keeffe (Murroe Boher), A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh), M McKenna (Pallasgreen) 

Subs: G O’Brien (Kilmallock) for McDonagh (28), R Horgan (Murroe Boher) for D. O’Keeffe (50) 

Referee: J Healy (Clare)