Red hot St Flannan's scorch Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG in Harty Cup semi-final
Eoin Ó Cróinín, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG fighting for this ball with Dara Kennedy, St Flannans, Ennis in the TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan
St Flannan’s never gave doubt an inch. The Ennis students removed all suspense as early as they possibly could. Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG’s attention-grabbing semi-final run was halted without sentiment.
Five years after their most recent success and most recent final appearance, the Ennis school has positioned itself one hour from a 23rd Harty crown. There they will find Thurles CBS. The two Harty heavyweights clashed on the opening afternoon of action. 2-21 apiece at Cappamore. The replay will now play out on the concluding afternoon of action.
Flannan’s arrived in Kilmallock on Wednesday lunchtime as firm favourites to extend their stay in the competition. Few, though, envisaged such a one-sided affair.
As early as the 12th minute, this semi-final was cooked. An angled James Hegarty free was caught superbly by Conor Ralph. The finish to the net for his team’s second major was equally impressive. 2-4 to 0-1. Flannan’s already headed for the final.
Ralph’s aerial prowess captured so much of the gulf between the sides. Even though Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG put Dónal Ó Scannláin sweeping in front of the full-back line, it made not a jot of difference.
Flannan’s deliveries, more often than not, came from the sky, rather than closer to the sod. And the size of Ralph and Harry Doherty inside meant it didn’t matter that they were outnumbered. The difference in physicality was every bit as pronounced as the 16-point difference at the finish.
Darragh Ball had delivered their opening goal inside two minutes, the assist was the opening performance of Conor Ralph’s catching exhibition.
Goal number three was another fine piece of fielding. Harry Doherty, who struck five first half wides, made amends with his 19th minute finish. 3-7 to 0-1. Total domination, total annihilation.
Midfielder Dara Kennedy’s 29th minute white flag completed the scoring contribution of the Flannan's front eight. Within that eight, Ronan Kilroy stood out along the 65-metre line with three from play.
There was much less activity down the far end. Craig Ó Súilleabháin clipped Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG's opener from a 65 on four minutes. They would not score again until the 23rd minute. That Conchúr Ó Briain point was their first from play. It had been only three minutes earlier when they’d managed their first point attempt from play.
Flannan’s hit 2-9 uninterrupted in the ocean of time between the Cork school’s first and second. A difficult afternoon for Ó Súilleabháin from the placed-ball only served to further compound a deeply chastening opening period for the Mon youngsters. It must be noted, mind, that but for Ó Súilleabháin, still U17, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire would never have bridged the 29-year gap to their last Harty semi-final appearance.
Callum Ó Cofaigh applied the final touch to a well-worked move on the half hour for a Gaelchoáiste Mhuire goal. It hardly put a scratch in the Flannan’s lead, however. 3-11 to 1-3 the interval scoreline.
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire certainly made the brighter second-half start. Ó Súilleabháin converted a 34th minute penalty after Josh Ó Brosnacháin was upended. Ó Súilleabháin raised white flags either side of his green. 3-13 to 2-5.
That was as close as they came. They had ample opportunities to close further. Eight second half wides, six by the 49th minute, added to an afternoon of little joy. Their missed tally finished up at 13.
Harry Doherty’s personal tally finished up at 1-9. Subs Patrick Finneran and Darragh McNamara came off the bench and swelled the Flannan’s lead.
After a quarter-final smash and grab against Midleton, victory here was ruthlessly purchased.
: Harry Doherty (1-9, 0-7 frees); C Ralph, D Ball (1-0 each); R Kilroy (0-3); M Cleary (0-2); R Loftus, D Costelloe, D Kennedy, G Ball, P Finneran, D McNamara (0-1 each).
C Ó Suilleabháin (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); C Ó Cofaigh (1-0); J Ó hÉigeartaigh (0-1 free), C Ó Briain (0-1 each).
M O Coileáin (St Joseph's Doora Barefield); J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), J Casey (Kilmaley), C Cummins (Ruan); R Loftus (Éire Óg), C Daly (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), J Cullinan (Ruan); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Kennedy (Ballyea); R Kilroy (Banner), M Cleary (Éire Óg), D Ball (St Joseph's Doora Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph's Doora Barefield), H Doherty (Clarecastle), C Ralph (Clarecastle).
D McNamara (Clooney-Quin) for D Ball (46); P Finneran (Clooney-Quin) for G Ball (48); N Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Kennedy (50); J Kennedy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Costelloe (54); P O’Connell (Clarecastle) for Cleary (56).
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), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Teampall Geal); 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), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh).
C Ó Riain (Carraig na bhFear) for Ó Connaill (43); S Mac Seoin (Naomh Uinseann) for Ó Murchú (45); E Mac Eochán (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for Ó Cróinín, G Ó Ceallacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for Ó hÉigeartaigh, G Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtán (Na Piarsaigh) for Gayfer (all 56).
J O’Halloran
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