Superb defence the key as Thurles CBS sound warning

FIELDING seven members of the Tipperary All-Ireland minor winning squad, Thurles CBS served notice they will take beating in the Dr Harty Cup with a convincing victory over Midleton CBS in a highly entertaining second round tie at Mitchelstown yesterday.

Thurles laid the foundations for their win in defence where Sean Harte, Kevin O’Gorman, Michael Doyle and James Barry were magnificent, Barry in particular. They completely blotted out Midleton’s danger men Robert White and Luke O’Farrell, both never getting into the game.

The Thurles attack was also in sparkling form with Ciaran Shelley, John O’Neill and David Butler making life very difficult for the Midleton defence all afternoon.

Only corner back Alywin Kearney came out of this game with his reputation intact.

Having drawn their opening round, Thurles needed to win if they were to have any chance of making the knock-out stages, and wasted little time in stamping their authority. Hurling with far more passion and skill, they forged 0-5 to 0-2 in front after 10 minutes and Midleton knew they had a right battle on their hands.

Faulty shooting cost the East Cork school several scores, but they were only two points adrift after 20 minutes, 0-8 to 0-6.

But the Tipp side, inspired by the brilliance of James Barry at centre back, grabbed the only goal of the game a minute later when Ciaran Shelley pounced on a loose ball to find the corner of the net, and they went on to lead 1-13 to 0-7 at the break after David Butler knocked over a succession of points from frees.

On the turnover, Midleton did manage three points in a row, two from frees by Paul Haughney, and hurling with far more commitment, they took the game to Thurles.

Only some great defending by James Barry and Kevin O’Gorman kept their goal intact, but the Midleton switches which saw Robert White move to full-forward and Luke O’Farrell to midfield, kept the pressure on, and with seven minutes to go, only Shelley’s first half goal separated the sides.

It was as close as Midleton got because Thurles finished with three excellent points, two by John O’Neill, to move to the top of their group with three points from two games played.

Scorers: Thurles: D. Butler 0-7 (0-4 frees); J. O’Neill, J. Barry (0-1 free, 0-1 65) 0-3 each; C. Shelley 1-0; C. Ryan 0-2; M. Greene, R. Ryan, P. O’Brien 0-1 each. Midleton: P. Haughney 0-6 (frees); L. O’Farrell 0-4; J. Nagle (0-1 free, 0-1 65), J. Keane 0-2 each; J. Aherne 0-1.

THURLES CBS: B. McCormack; S. Harty, K. O’Gorman, P. Ryan; M. Doyle, J. Barry, D. Maher; P. O’Brien, R. Ryan; C. Shelley, A. Greene, C. Ryan; J. O’Neill, D. Butler, C. Morris.

Subs: M. Bracken for Greene; P. Molloy for R. Ryan; A. McCormack for C. Ryan.

MIDLETON CBS: C. Lehane; P. O’Brien, P. O’Neill, A. Kearney; D. Moynihan, J. Nagle, S. Richards; P. O’Keeffe, C. Harte; J. Keane, R. White, E. Healy; P. Haughney, L. O’Farrell, J. Aherne.

Subs: C. Rice for Harte; T. Lawton for Healy; B. Hartnett for Aherne; M. Russell for Moynihan; J. O’Driscoll for Lawton.

Referee: M. O’Connor (Limerick).