Harty Cup: Nenagh CBS demolish Christians to secure semi-final spot

Nenagh, for the first time since 2017, are still standing come the last four of the schools competition.

LAST FOUR: Ciaran Foley of Nenagh C.B.S. trying to get clear of Peter O'Shea of Christian Brothers College, Cork, in the Dr. Harty Cup quarter-final at Bansha. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

Nenagh CBS 2-16

Christians Brothers College, Cork 0-6

No brimstone in Bansha. No suspense either.

Nenagh CBS, for the first time since 2017, are still standing come the last four of the Harty Cup. In fact, they are more than standing after this 16-point skewering of outclassed Christians.

Out of sight and out of mind since their second and final group outing on October 25, Nenagh delivered a roaring return to action on Wednesday afternoon.

Their two-and-a-half-month layoff, by comparison with a month for their Cork opponents, proved no hindrance at all. The Nenagh students were sharper in trapping possession and smarter in their transfer of it.

They led this quarter-final 1-4 to 0-2 after 12 minutes. Their lead was six-strong come the break. It should have been more. Their wide count stood at nine. There was a saved goal opportunity too.

Captain and centre-forward Darragh McCarthy was responsible for five of those nine first half wides. You couldn’t criticise him, though, not when he was inflicting such damage from play and placed ball. The Toomevara talent would finish with 0-11 next to his name.

He and Danny Quinn had been their chief marksmen when emerging from Group 4 with two wins from two. 3-22 they had contributed. And it was this pair who again set them on their way at the foot of the Galtee mountains.

McCarthy had three frees thrown over inside six minutes. Quinn goaled six minutes later after a snappy assist from fellow inside operator Eoghan Doughan. The full-forward added a white to his green flag within a minute.

Where Nenagh were creating and finding space all across the Christians half, the Sidney Hill school were unable to do likewise. The Nenagh half-back line, and corner-back Gavin McGrath behind them, comfortably absorbed incoming deliveries.

None of the Christians front six scored from play in the first half. None of the sextet were able to rectify that statistic in the second half either. Only two of that front six - Michael Brosnan and Ben Mayer - didn’t hear the final whistle from the bench.

Ben Mayer of Christian Brothers College, Cork, trying to block down a shot by Jake Hackett of Nenagh C.B.S. in the Dr. Harty Cup quarter-final at Bansha. Picture Denis Minihane.

CBC’s four points from play were shared evenly by the tireless midfield partnership of Peter O’Shea and Andy Hourigan.

Having lived dangerously in their four games en route to the quarters, Christians were all out of luck here. They were all out of everything, really.

To state the absolute obvious, they needed a statement start to the second period. Instead, McCarthy continued to tease and torment them. He spun three-in-a-row - two from play - to stretch their advantage out to 1-10 to 0-4 on 35 minutes.

Christians had a goal chance in the play prior to McCarthy’s third of the half. Diarmuid Wall whipped narrowly wide. The same player went low with a 20-metre free two minutes later. Saved. The colour went from their challenge.

A run-of-the-mill free sent wide in injury-time summed up their miserable exit. A third consecutive quarter-final exit.

Their engine restarted, Nenagh surge on. Charleville CBS stand between them and a first final appearance since 2012. They met in the opening round in early October. An injury-time Danny Quinn goal saw the Tipp school take the verdict by four.

Charleville will need to be mindful of more than McCarthy and Quinn ahead of the rematch. Aodhan O’Connor chalked a second Nenagh goal on 49 minutes. Eoghan Doughan in the other corner sniped a pair of points in quick succession. Half-back Andy Hoolan and midfielder Ciaran Foley also muscled in on the act.

They have brilliance and they have balance. Bansha bore witness to it all.

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: D McCarthy (0-11, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65); D Quinn (1-1); A O’Connor (1-0); E Doughan (0-2); A Hoolan, C Foley (0-1 each).

Scorers for CBC, Cork: D Wall (0-2 frees), A Hourigan, P O’Shea (0-2 each).

NENAGH CBS: S Grace (Ballina); C Grace (Burgess), C Connolly (Nenagh Éire Óg), G McGrath (Kiladangan); A Hoolan (Moneygall), J Hackett (Toomevara), J Doran (Toomevara); C Foley (Borrisokane), M Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg); Z Keller (Nenagh Éire Óg), D McCarthy (Toomevara), J Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Doughan (Moneygall), D Quinn (Silermines), A O’Connor (Éire Óg Nenagh).

SUBS: A Duff (Toomevara) for Keller (HT); B O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cawley (48 mins); D Treacy (Silvermines) for Mulcahy (52); M Ryan (Burgess) for Doughan (58).

CBC, CORK: E Coughlan (Blackrock); C McCarthy (Glen Rovers), J O’Callaghan Maher (Douglas), J Huggins (Sarsfields); R Buckley (Whitechurch), D Collins (Erin’s Own), D Browne (Blackrock); A Hourigan (Mallow), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own); M Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Nolan (Erin’s Own), B Mayer (Ballinora); D Wall (Glen Rovers), C McCarthy (St Finbarr’s), P Lehane (Na Piarsaigh).

SUBS: J Hegarty (Ballinora) for Nolan, J Cronin (Blarney) for C McCarthy (St Finbarr’s, both 39 mins); C Lawless (Blarney) for Lehane (46); J O’Farrell (Blackrock) for Wall, M Scally (Bishopstown) for Browne (both 52).

Referee: J Butler (Clare).