Ardscoil Rís bar path as Nenagh bid to bridge 15-year Harty Cup final gap

NENAGH CBS will bid to bridge a 15-year gap since their last appearance in the final of the Dr Harty Cup and thwart the ambitions of Ardscoil Rís when the teams renew acquaintances in today’s semi-final replay clash in Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary Town (2.30pm).

The North Tipperary school have never managed to win this competition and came desperately close in last Sunday week’s drawn semi-final to securing a spot in the decider on February 26.

Nenagh CBS led by two points entering injury-time yet Ardscoil Rís grabbed a draw courtesy of late points by Jack Kelleher and substitute Micheál O’Loughlin.

The Limerick school have only four survivors from last year’s title-winning team in full-back PJ Hall, centre-back Barry O’Connell, midfielder Jamie Shanahan and corner-forward Kevin O’Brien.

Yet their management team, led by Liam Cronin, have fashioned a strong new starting 15 with Jack Kelleher, Jody Hannon and Ronan Lynch all prominent. They will hope to avoid the slow start that marred their performance in the drawn game, conceding 1-2 without reply in the first six minutes.

Nenagh CBS, managed by Limerick senior hurling trainer Donagh O’Donnell, were left disappointed by allowing victory slip from their grasp. They are enduring a marathon campaign after also requiring a replay in their quarter-final tie against Thurles CBS.

Yet in both games against Thurles CBS and Ardscoil Rís they have displayed a tremendous work ethic against the two schools who have won the last three titles between them.

Last year’s Tipperary minor hurling captain Jason Forde is their standout figure but Tadhg Gallagher, a younger brother of 2011 Tipperary U21 Joe, Jack Peters and Stephen O’Brien are all excellent prospects as well.

If Nenagh CBS do not dwell on the setback of coughing up a late lead in the drawn game, they have the capacity to prevail.

Verdict: Nenagh CBS.