Hoolan the hero as late, late goal ushers in Harty history for Nenagh CBS 

Andy Hoolan struck for goal in the 63rd minute to seal the Dr Harty Cup crown for the Tipperary school. 

COMPROMISING POSITION: Austin Duff of CBS Nenagh scores a goal late in the first half. Pic: Natasha Barton, Inpho

Nenagh CBS 2-16 Ardscoil Rís 0-21  

Harty history for Nenagh CBS. And what a way to do it.

Referee Cathal McAllister signalled for two minutes injury-time at the end of a storming second period that was level on seven occasions. 

This Harty final was three minutes in the red when Ciaran Foley sent a long-range free in the direction of the Ardscoil square. Two behind, Nenagh knew it was a goal or nothing.

Their first attempt at the necessary green flag was a Brian O’Meara shot from outside the 20-metre line that ‘keeper Fionn O’Brien superbly saved.

Ardscoil, though, could not clear the danger. Possession was lobbed back into the melting pot. A convergence of colour and bodies. An Andy Hoolan pull. A half-back hero. Goal Nenagh.

The final whistle sounded in the ensuing play. In their fifth final appearance, a first Harty crown for the Tipp school.

Their leaders were easily found. Hoolan was yellow carded early in the first half but went on to deliver such an effective showing in the Nenagh defence. Midfielder Ciaran Foley was marvellous, his workrate manic. He brought his team level on 52 minutes and then shoved them in front four minutes later..

That they never left the coattails of their opponents throughout had so much to do with captain and centre-forward Darragh McCarthy. The Toomevara teenager conjured huge points and equally huge placed-ball efforts in either half.

IN DEFENCE AND ATTACK: Diarmuid Stritch of Ardscoil Ris in action against Andy Hoolan and Aodhan O'Connor of CBS Nenagh. Pic: Natasha Barton, Inpho

Having trailed from the third minute onward, Nenagh came with 1-1 at the end of the first half to level matters 1-8 to 0-11 at the break.

The goal was superbly squeezed in by sub Austin Duff on 28 minutes. Introduced on 25 minutes, the diminutive Duff had 1-1 beside his name within four minutes of being sprung.

Eoghan Doughan’s third point of the half in injury-time to bring Nenagh level was by no means the most stylish white flag of the half, but its build-up was easily the most impressive.

Three times Ardscoil Rís tried to come out of defence with possession. Each time they were hooked and hassled and halted. Nenagh’s relenting pressure eventually forced the turnover. Doughan’s accuracy made sure there was something valuable at the end of it.

The claustrophobic nature of the half’s final play was not in keeping with an opening period where space was in no short supply.

Darragh McCarthy, as expected, drove the Nenagh effort straight from the throw-in. Their top-scorer on the road to Ennis had his first point tagged by the 41st second. He assisted for their second, finished by Mason Cawley, and later converted two frees, one of which he won himself.

For Ardscoil, the scores came easier. Jamie Moylan swept at the heart of their defence and proved the launchpad for so many of their first half scores.

Centre-forward Fintan Fitzgerald led the way with four from play, with Michael Collins to his right sniping a pair. Their inside line of Daniel Chaplin, Marc O’Brien, and Eoin Begley were all on the mark by the break.

When Michael Collins, O’Brien (free), and sub Patrick Kearney spun three-in-a-row between the 58th and 62nd minute to take the Limerick school from one behind to two in front, Ardscoil had one hand on a sixth Harty crown and first in six years.

They never, though, managed to get a second hand on it. Hoolan’s groundstroke ushered in history.

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: D McCarthy (0-7, 0-4 frees); A Duff (1-1); M Cawley, E Doughan (0-3); A Hoolan (1-0); C Foley (0-2).

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: M O’Brien (0-1 free), F Fitzgerald (0-5 each); D Chaplin (0-2 frees), M Collins (0-3 each); E Begley (0-2); D Scully, D Gleeson, P Kearney (0-1 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); A O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg), D Quinn (Silvermines), E Doughan (Moneygall).

Subs: A Duff (Toomevara) for Quinn (25); D Treacy (Silvermines) for Keller (49); J O’Dwyer (Burgess) for Mulcahy (50); B O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Connor (55).

Ardscoil Rís: F O’Brien (Bruree); J O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), S McMahon (Smith O’Briens), S Morrissey (Dromin-Athlacca); J Finn (Na Piarsaigh), J Moylan (Cratloe), D Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); R McNamara (Cratloe), M O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); M Collins (Clonlara), F Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), D Stritch (Clonlara); D Chaplin (Sixmilebridge), M O’Brien (Cratloe), E Begley (Clonlara).

Subs: D Gleeson (Adare) for O’Keeffe (HT); P Kearney (Adare) for Chaplin (38); J Cosgrave (Ahane) for Stritch (58); S Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Collins (62).

Referee: C McAllister (Cork).