Late heroics ensure Thurles CBS grab share of spoils in Harty Cup clash with St Flannan's

TEENAGE DREAMS: Euan Murray came up trumps for his school. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Harty Cup: St Flannan's 2-21 Thurles CBS 2-21 

A late Thurles CBS turnaround salvaged a share of the spoils against St Flannan's in an entertaining Harty Cup opener at Cappamore.

Tipperary minor Euan Murray came up trumps in the end, advancing from centre-back to level the scores for a ninth time with 61 minutes on the clock. It would prove the last puck of the game.

Moments earlier, Thurles had earned a lifeline when Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-7) was instructed to go for goal from a 21-yard free by manager Niall Cahill and duly bounced the sliotar to the net.

Thurles had done the front-running throughout the first half but Flannan's looked likely winners after two Conor Ralph goals moved them four ahead with a minute of normal time remaining.

The draw could see score difference come into play in a three-team group that also features competition debutants Tralee CBS. Thurles are first to face the Kerry representatives in three weeks' time.

The Tipperary school had eliminated Flannan's at the quarter-final stage last year and retained nine starters from that day compared to their opponents' four.

They were off the mark after 10 seconds when Tiarnán Ryan surged forward from the throw-in to point.

Flannan's had success from pressing the restart with Neil Hegarty and Daniel Costelloe points but Thurles jumped 1-3 to 0-3 ahead from a route-one puck-out.

Keith Loughnane's pass fell short of its target but was flicked by a defender onto Jack Hayes and ricocheted into the net.

They added superb points from Kieran Rossiter, David Costigan, and Cillian Minogue to maintain that three-point cushion into the second quarter.

But Flannan's were creating plenty and clipped three in a row, including one apiece from midfielders Costelloe and Dara Kennedy to level, 0-9 to 1-6. By that juncture, they had got off 17 shots against Thurles' perfect conversion rate from seven attempts.

Cheered on by four bus-loads of support, the Tipp side responded with the next four points. A Fitzpatrick free was followed by a lovely score from corner-back Dan McCahey. Fitzpatrick then drifted inside his own half for a long-range effort before Costigan rounded out the streak.

The effective Ronan Kilroy struck a brace and Harry Doherty's fourth free left just two between them at the break; 1-11 to 0-12.

Marco Cleary shot to the net on the resumption but referee Johnny Murphy had already whistled to correctly award a free out.

Flannan's were fired up, though, and soon executed a 1-4 burst to accelerate four ahead. Kennedy, Doherty (free), and James Cullinan brought them level before corner-back Conor Daly pushed them into a first lead in over half an hour.

From the puck-out, they found their goal. Robert Loftus grabbed the sliotar from the sky and Cullinan sent a long ball down to Ralph. The full-forward juggled towards the posts before blasting to the net. 1-16 to 1-12 after 38 minutes.

Flannan's came slicing through again but Darragh Ball's shot was controlled by Harry Loughnane.

Thurles unleashed a strong response to reel off five points and retake the lead. Full-forward Keith Loughnane was switched to join Murray in the half-back line and they opened the supply lines.

Substitute Ryne Bargary slotted a pair, Rossiter added his third, Evan Morris strode forward from full-back, and a Fitzpatrick free edged them ahead.

Doherty came up with two equalisers either side of a super Minogue score.

The game was finely balanced but lurched towards the Ennis school with Ralph's 55th-minute goal. It came from Kilroy turning over possession and James O'Dwyer drawing an incredible save from Harry Loughnane. 

Ralph's initial rebound was blocked by Morris but his second had enough juice to cross the line. Thurles complained of a push in the build-up.

Kilroy and Paul O'Connell moved Flannan's four clear either side of Robbie Ryan's reply but when the captain was fouled with time almost up, Thurles found the goal they needed to reignite their troops.

Scorers for St Flannan's: H Doherty (0-8, 7 frees); C Ralph (2-0); R Kilroy (0-4); D Kennedy, D Costelloe (0-2 each); C Daly, J Cullinan, J Hegarty, N Hegarty, P O'Connell (0-1 each).

Scorers for Thurles CBS: C Fitzpatrick (1-7, 1-5 frees); J Hayes (1-0); K Rossiter (0-3); D Costigan, R Ryan, C Minogue, R Bargary (0-2 each); D McCahey, E Morris, E Murray (0-1 each).

ST FLANNAN'S: M Ó Coileáin (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); S McNamara (Clooney-Quin), J Casey (Kilmaley), C Daly (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); R Loftus (Éire Óg Ennis), J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona, capt), J Cullinan (Ruan); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Kennedy (Ballyea); R Kilroy (Banner), N Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), D Ball (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); M Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis), C Ralph (Clarecastle), H Doherty (Clarecastle).

Subs: P Finneran (Clooney-Quin) for Ball (42), J O'Dwyer (Éire Óg Ennis) for Cleary (47), P O'Connell (Clarecastle) for N Hegarty (53, inj).

THURLES CBS: H Loughnane (Roscrea); J Lahart (Holycross-Ballycahill), E Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill), D McCahey (Loughmore-Castleiney); T Corbett (Upperchurch-Drombane), E Murray (Dúrlas Óg), K Cantwell (Moycarkey-Borris); T Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), K Rossiter (Dúrlas Óg); D Costigan (Moycarkey-Borris), R Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill, capt), J Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris); C Fitzpatrick (Drom-Inch), K Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), C Minogue (Dúrlas Óg).

Subs: R Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla) for T Ryan (42), J Butler (Seán Treacys) for Cantwell (46).

Referee: J Murphy (Ballylanders).