Harty Cup wrap: Classy Thurles CBS signal title intent

Thurles CBS — the 2015 champions — put 5-25 past Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG to suggest they’ll have a sizeable say in the destination of the Harty Cup come the knockout stages.

The Thurles nursery backed up their opening day victory over De La Salle with a polished display at Fermoy yesterday.

This Group B fixture was done and dusted by half-time, with the winners enjoying an unassailable 3-16 to 0-6 lead.

The Cork school leaked two further goals in the second period and were 27 points adrift at the final whistle.

Darragh Woods was Thurles’ scorer-in-chief, finishing with 2-13 to his name. TJ Butler, Cathal Bourke, and Anthony McKelvey also hit the back of the net.

Back-to-back wins see Thurles progress to the last 16 as group winners.

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, for whom Na Piarsaigh’s Craig Hannifin (0-8) shone brightest, must now overcome De La Salle, Waterford in their final group outing to keep alive their involvement in the competition.

That game is down for decision on Wednesday, November 16.

In Group G, St Francis College, Rochestown scored a 1-14 to 1-10 win over Charleville CBS at Mallow.

Blackrock’s John O’Sullivan was the hero for the 2015 defeated finalists. He shot 1-8 over the hour.

Charleville’s Cormac O’Brien also clipped 1-8, but the North Cork school left themselves with far too much to do at the break having returned to the dressing-room 1-10 to 0-5 in arrears.

O’Brien’s goal did pare the margin back but they were unable to move within touching distance of Rochestown.

In the all-Limerick Group A game at Bruff, Scoil Na Trioniode Doon staved off Coláiste Iosaef, Kilmallock with 10 points to spare.

Doon held a slender 0-7 to 1-2 interval advantage but pulled clear in the second-half to win out on a final scoreline of 1-16 to 1-4.

This second defeat means Kilmallock are out of the running for the knockout stages, with Doon and Christians to square off for top spot.

Both teams, irrespective of the outcome of that fixture on Wednesday, November 16, are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages.