Craig Ó Suilleabháin powers Gaelcholáiste Mhuire to first Harty Cup semi-final in 29 years
GaelCholaiste Mhuire AG's Craig Ó'Súilleabhain is tackled by Cashel Community school's William Colville during the TUS Harty Cup quarter-final at UL. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG made their way into their first TUS Dr Harty Cup semi-final in 29 years with a fully deserved eight point victory over Cashel Community School at the UL North Campus all-weather pitch on Monday.
St Flannan’s Ennis await in a much-anticipated semi-final.
More clinical in a lot of areas, top scorer in the competition coming into today, Craig Ó Suilleabháin, will surely remain out in front after totalling an incredible 13 points for this side - accurate from frees and also a threat with four from play.
This, coupled with an extremely hard working defence, was the key to their success.
Cashel CS were level after 10 minutes, 0-2 apiece, but it was the AG who settled best.
Against the wind, Ó Suilleabháin landed a pair of frees in the 10th and 15th minute following fouls on captain Jamie Ó hÉigeartaigh and Darragh Ó Conaill to add to flags by Callum Ó Cofaigh and Éoin Ó Cróinín to lead by double scores.
Charlie Hall contributed an important score for Cashel CS to leave it 0-4 to 0-3 after quarter of an hour, still very much in contention.
As the rain poured down and the floodlights were switched on, the Cork representatives started to take control, especially at the back led by Josh Ó Brosnacháin where they gave nothing away.
Ó Suilleabháin fired over from play and placed balls while Ó Cróinín bagged a second, to lead 0-8 to 0-3.
On the 30 minute mark, Bríain O’Donoghue landed a point for the Tipperary side, their first in quarter of an hour, it left them four in arrears at the interval.
With the foundation laid, Gaelcholáiste restarted brightly with Ó Suilleabháin to the fore and the advantage remained double scores after 10 minutes of the second half, 0-12 to 0-6.
Cashel CS goalkeeper Eoghan Dunne was in fine form, twice denying Ó Cofaigh. Further up the field, they found scores hard to come by.
They did rally in the fourth quarter, yet they were outscored six points to four during this period.
The AG were never going to be caught.
Roll on the semi-final.
C Ó Suilleabháin (0-13, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65), E Ó Cróinín (0-2), C Ó Cofaigh, D Ó Conaill and G Ó Gealbháin (0-1 each).
B Ó Donoghue (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), C Hall (0-2), S Cooney, S Hall, C Bourke and C Fogarty (0-1 each).
J Ó Gabhláin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); M Gayfer (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Maonaigh (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Murchú (Baile na mBocht); S Ó Dalaigh (Naomh Uinseann), J Ó Brosnacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó Briain (Teampall Geal), C Ó Súilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Connaill (Teampall Geal), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Teampall Geal, Capt).
C Ó Riain (Carraig na bhFear) for C Ó Briain (50), E Mac Eochán (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for D Ó Conaill (55), T Ó Brudau (Naomh Uinseann) for J Ó hÉigeartaigh (57).
E Dunne (Cashel King Cormacs); R O’Mahony (Fethard), N O’Flynn (Fethard), T O’Driscoll (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); S Mackey (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams), S Cooney (Clerihan), C Lonergan (Golden Kilfeacle); C Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), S Hall (Golden Kilfeacle); C Hall (Golden Kilfeacle), B O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), C Walsh (Fethard); C Bourke (Rosegreen, Capt), S Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore), R O’Sullivan (Clerihan).
W Colville (Rosegreen) for R O’Sullivan, C Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla) for C Walsh (both 47), B Gleeson (Boherlahan-Dualla) for C Lonergan, A Toomey ((Boherlahan-Dualla) for S Kennedy (both 58).
Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
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