Lismore power past Doon to open Harty Cup with convincing win
Waterford All-Ireland minor winner Hugo Quann played at centre-back for Blackwater CS, Lismore. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
With All-Ireland champions Thurles CBS the next obstacle down the road, Blackwater Community School treated this Harty Cup group-stage opener like a knockout fixture.
A 1-5 surge early in the second half bagged the spoils in a hard-fought encounter with Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon.
Ben Cummins finished on 1-11 for the Lismore school, while Seán Óg Costin and Adam Cummins supplied the other goals. Billy Murphy’s superb penalty save insulated them against any fightback.
“With young fellas, goals are nearly worth six points,” said Blackwater boss Fintan O’Connor. “It knocks the confidence of one team and gives the other team a bit of confidence.
“There was very little in it. We got the goals at the right times, and that was the only real difference in the two teams.”
Their opponents, STN, edged an even start with four of the first seven points. Midfielder Diarmuid Crowe (0-6) and Jonathan Dawson (0-3) would prove their key scorers, and both got off the mark in those early exchanges.
The first turning point arrived in the 12th minute. It was a six-point swing, too, as Conor Kenny’s flick ran across the face of the Blackwater goal. Hugo Quann’s clearing free was claimed by Costin, who exchanged passes with Joseph McDonnell before thundering the sliotar to the roof of the net. 1-3 to 0-4.
STN settled with a Robbie McGrath free and Dawson’s second before Blackwater raised another green flag in the 17th minute. Dynamic midfielder Jack Twomey scythed through the defence, only to be hauled down for a penalty. Ben Cummins stepped up to bury the sliotar for a 2-4 to 0-6 lead.
Crowe closed with three long-range points, followed by Dawson’s third, to leave one score in the difference at half-time, 2-7 to 0-10.
Twomey had started the first half with a trademark surging run for Costin’s opener. The midfielder produced a replica to begin the second half, teeing up McDonnell for a fierce shot which Mali Keogh tipped over.
Placed balls from McGrath and Crowe cut the deficit to two. Blackwater then swung the momentum their way with a definitive 1-5 streak. It began with a flowing move as David O’Farrell released Adam Cummins to rattle the net. The half-forward added a point moments later.
Murphy safeguarded that impetus with a flying save from Eamon Richardson’s penalty, which had been won by Josh McLoughlin. Quann blocked the rebound before dashing forward to split the posts.
The final quarter was dominated by frees, although McLoughlin bagged a consolation goal after good work by Kenny.
Murphy rounded out the win with a full-stretch save from McGrath’s close-range free.
B Cummins (1-11, 1-0 penalty, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65); A Cummins, S Óg Costin (1-1 each); J McDonnell (0-2); H Quann, J Twomey (0-1 each).
D Crowe (0-6, 2 frees, 1 65); R McGrath (0-4, 4 frees); J McLoughlin (1-0); J Dawson (0-3); C Kenny (0-1).
B Murphy (Cois Bhríde); L Dunford (Modeligo), J Kiely (Lismore), K Dunne (Lismore); R Kavanagh (St Oliver’s), H Quann (Lismore), B Bourke (Ballyduff Upper); B Scanlon (Geraldines), J Twomey (Cappoquin); A Cummins (Lismore), J McDonnell (Tallow), B Cummins (Lismore); S Óg Costin (Geraldines), D O’Brien (Ballysaggart, capt), D O’Farrell (Lismore).
J Henley (Tallow) for Kavanagh (h-t), L Mulhall (St Oliver’s) for O’Farrell (44), S Healy (St Oliver’s) for Dunne (52), J Lonergan (St Oliver’s) for O’Brien (59).
M Keogh (Cappamore); F Roche (Doon), C Mulcahy (Cappamore), P Richardson (Doon); C Gantley (Cappawhite), E Richardson (Doon), D Blackmore (Doon); D Crowe (Doon), S Hanley (Doon); D Coughlan (Doon), D Long (Pallasgreen), R McGrath (Doon); J Dawson (Seán Treacys), C Kenny (Doon), J McLoughlin (Doon).
C Stokes (Pallasgreen) for Mulcahy (h-t).
S O’Neill (St Mary’s).
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