Brilliant Kearney shines as Ardscoil outlast Castletroy in Harty Cup

Despite the clear winning margin Ardscoil Rís were pushed all the way by Castletroy College 

 

Harty Cup: Ardscoil Rís 2-26 Castletroy College 2-16 

Despite the favourite tag, and despite the finishing scoreline – it wasn’t straightforward for Ardscoil Rís in Claughaun on Wednesday afternoon.

They were pushed all the way by a physical Castletroy College, who had cut the deficit from seven points in the 28th minute to two by the 37th.

But it was Patrick Kearney, who finished with 1-5 from play, that ensured Ardscoil would meet expectations on the first day out.

He scored three of the next four points, with the other arriving from the ever-threatening Clare U20 Michael Collins, who had been a nuisance for Castletroy across the hour.

With Ardscoil Rís 1-20 to 1-14 clear and a quarter of an hour to go – jabs weren’t sufficient, they needed a knockout punch.

Collins again, ran at the Castletroy defence. Blue shirts converged to stop him.

But that left Eoin Begley with room to shoot. A great block from Conor Bowles denied their Limerick rivals, but the loose ball fell perfectly into the palm of Kearney. Goal Ardscoil.

John O’Connor and Collins tacked on two more for Ardscoil, leaving them 11 in front with eight to go. It was a big ask of Castletroy, but that wouldn’t stop them from trying.

Limerick U20 and Monaleen senior hurling starlet Matthew Fitzgerald assisted Cillian Clifford for another Castletroy goal. Two Castletroy white flags followed, but with two minutes plus injury time to go, a six-point deficit was too great.

Ardscoil finished ruthlessly. Four shots returned four points.

Three of those again from Kearney, with the other a great effort from Limerick minor Eoin Brosnan.

Despite losing by 10, Castletroy had put it up to their rivals.

They led three times inside the first 20 minutes, the first when Fitzgerald helped them to a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage after nine. Within two minutes Ardscoil had moved one point ahead, with Eoin Begley on target twice, Kearney once.

But Castletroy responded. Robert O’Farrell set up Conor Ryan for goal, and while his effort was saved, O’Farrell was there to knock it home, 1-3 to 0-4.

But once more, it took two minutes for Ardscoil to level it – with Kearney pointing from a free before Brosnan’s clever handpass sent Collins charging down the flank. He shook off his man before cutting in and striking over.

The resulting puckout saw 15-year-old Ian O’Brien send over his first of three scores – putting Ardscoil in front, 0-7 to 1-3.

Castletroy would come back again – leading 1-7 to 0-8 by the 18th minute.

That would be the last time they led though, with Ardscoil reeling off seven in a row to move 0-15 to 1-7 clear with 27 minutes elapsed.

An O’Farrell free left three in it, before Ardscoil hit their first goal – with Collins setting up Begley for a tidy finish.

Two more frees from O’Farrell cut the deficit to five at the interval, and while Castletroy did fight back in the second period, they were never able to draw level, and Ardscoil pulled ahead in the final quarter.

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: P Kearney (1-14, 0-9 frees), E Begley (1-2), M Collins (0-4), I O’Brien (0-3), S Arthur, J O’Connor, E Brosnan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Castletroy College: R O’Farrell (1-7, 0-6 frees), C Clifford (1-2), M Fitzgerald (0-4), C Ryan, P Scully, D Moloughney (0-1 each).

ARDSCOIL RÍS: D Jordan (Na Piarsaigh); E Ryan (South Liberties), S Morrissey (c) (Dromin Athlacca), A Fitzsimmons (Na Piarsaigh); E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), D Gleeson (Adare), J Cosgrave (Ahane); C Ryan (Ahane), R Benson (Na Piarsaigh); S Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus), O Byrne (Crecora Manister), M Collins (Clonlara); E Begley (Clonlara), I O’Brien (Cratloe), P Kearney (Adare).

Subs: C Ryan (Adare) for Benson (38), J O’Keeffe (Murroe Boher) for Arthur (47), J O’Connor (Ahane) for Byrne (50), C Murphy (Sixmilebridge) for Begley (53), J O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge) for Gleeson (54).

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: E Murrihy (Ahane); L Ferland (Monaleen), D Blackwell (Ahane), C Bowles (Monaleen); C Galvin (Monaleen), C Scully (c) (Monaleen), M Southern (Monaleen); M Fitzgerald (Monaleen), J Rennisson (Ahane); H McDermot (Monaleen), R O’Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), P Scully (Monaleen); C Ryan (Monaleen), B Griffin (Monaleen), C Clifford (Monaleen).

Subs: D Moloughney (Ahane) for Griffin (53), JJ O’Halloran (Monaleen) for McDermott (60).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport).