Ryan on fire as Roscrea rout Clonakilty and advance to Munster final

A GOOD start helped Roscrea Community School overcome Clonakilty Community School with relative ease in the semi-final of the Munster Vocational Schools’ senior A hurling championship at Ballyagran yesterday.

Inspired by the excellence of Offaly minor Eoin Ryan at centre-forward, Roscrea had scored 2-7 before Clonakilty registered a score, increasing their lead to 15 points by half-time.

Aside from Ryan, a solid display by the Roscrea half-back line was key in determining the outcome.

With the wind behind them in the opening half, Roscrea took the game to their opponents from the off, Declan Cleary hitting the post in the fifth minute, and they had three points on the board before Ryan got their first goal, an excellent individual effort after he won a break from a long puckout by goalkeeper Daryl Ryan.

When John Wall got a second a minute later, finishing from close range after sustained pressure, Roscrea were in a very healthy position and two points each from Ryan and Jamie Bergin solidified that.

A free from Clonakilty’s brightest performer, midfielder Jeremy McCarthy, did get them off the mark but it was not enough to stem the flow and Roscrea trooped in at the interval leading by 2-11 to 0-2.

Two Ryan frees on the restart extended that lead, but Clon, now playing with the elements, reeled off four in a row, McCarthy with two while Finbarr Butler got an impressive effort and Cillian Cullinane also notched another.

Even with that flurry, they still trailed by 13 points, however, and Roscrea were never going to be overhauled.

Ryan capped his display with a wonderful point late on, and sub Conor Smyth underlined their dominance when he got a third goal in injury time.

Scorers for Roscrea Community School: E Ryan 1-8 (0-4f), J Wall 1-1, C Smyth 1-0, J Bergin 0-2, M Collier, B Teehan, D Murphy, D Cleary, E Flynn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clonakilty Community School: J McCarthy 0-6 (0-4f), C Cullinane 0-2, F Butler 0-1.

ROSCREA COMMUNITY SCHOOL: D Ryan; J Feeney, C Bergin, E Greene; M Campion, M Collier, J Ryan; J Cleary, J Sampson; B Teehan, E Ryan, J Wall; D Murphy, J Bergin, D Cleary.

Subs: E Flynn for Teehan (39), C Hassett for Feeney, C Smyth for J Bergin (both 58), D McAuliffe for D Cleary (59).

CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL: G Kirby; D McCarthy, D O’Donovan, C Hennessy; E Hartnett, S O’Donovan, S White; S McCarthy, J McCarthy; S Murray, A O’Donovan, J O’Brien; J Hayes, C Cullinane, F Butler.

Subs: M O’Donovan for S O’Donovan (47), N Evans for Murray, M O’Sullivan for Hayes, F O’Connell for Cullinane (all 50).

Referee: Michael O’Connor (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick).

* Meanwhile in yesterday’s other Munster Vocational SAHC semi-final, Borrisokane CC defeated St Brogan’s (Bandon) by 3-11 to 1-11.