Cashel shine on Corn Uí Mhuirí bow but holders Mounthawk battle back for draw

Last year’s ‘B’ kingpins, the Tipperary school were still five points clear with eight minutes to go.

 

Corn Uí Mhuirí: Mercy Mounthawk 1-11 Cashel CS 2-8 

Back-to-back Corn Uí Mhuirí champions Mercy Mounthawk battled back from seven points down to earn a share of the spoils against Munster Colleges SFC debutants Cashel CS in an interesting Group 3 opener at a rainy Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.

Last year’s ‘B’ kingpins, the Tipperary school gave a great account of themselves against the holders and, when centre-back Noah O’Flynn chipped a stunning goal in the 39th minute, they were in pole position (2-6 to 0-5) to power on for a famous victory.

However, buoyed by the best possible reply at the other end – an Aaron Harty green flag within about 60 seconds – Mercy Mounthawk showed their fighting spirit. Even when Cashel CS still held a five-point cushion (2-8 to 1-6) with eight minutes to go, the underdogs weren’t home and dry.

An Alex Tuohy two-point special, a fisted effort from Dara Harty, and a brace of frees from Michael Somers, had the reigning kingpins at parity by the 58th minute. With momentum in their favour at that juncture, they looked the likelier victors.

However, in a dramatic denouement, Mercy Mounthawk missed three late opportunities to fire over the winner. Conor McGibney, Somers and Tuohy were all off target in the closing minutes as Cashel CS held on for what was the least they probably deserved.

With the excellent Charlie Walsh always influential on the ’40, and Brian O’Donoghue a physical ball-winner in the inside forward line, Cashel CS were full value for their five-point half-time lead (1-5 to 0-3), with ‘keeper Kieran O’Neill saving a Ryan Onyekwere penalty in the 19th minute.

The Cashel CS goal seven minutes later was a superb score with Charlie Hall’s long delivery from deep passing through the hands of O’Donoghue and Walsh before full-forward Eimhín Ryan had the simplest of tasks to tap to the net from close range.

Mercy Mounthawk, who have lost the majority of last year’s side, and were without the talismanic David Sargent, started the second half well with a Somers orange flag from a placed ball, but they were rocked after O’Flynn’s deft dink over Ruairí Kennedy from Walsh’s pinpoint drilled assist.

A fine catch by Somers set up Aaron Harty for a lovely individual goal in response, but Cashel CS steadied the ship. Entering the last eight minutes, they looked destined for glory, but Mercy Mounthawk’s blistering finish stymied their hopes. In truth, neither side will complain with a point apiece.

Scorers for Mercy Mounthawk: M Somers 0-6 (1tpf, 0-3fs), A Harty 1-1 (0-1f), A Tuohy 0-2 (tp), C McGibney, D Harty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cashel CS: C Walsh 0-4 (0-3fs), E Ryan 1-1, N O’Flynn 1-0, B O’Donoghue 0-2, C Hall 0-1.

MERCY MOUNTHAWK: R Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys); E Crowley (Churchill), K O’Shea (Firies), S O’Neill (Kerins O’Rahillys); A Johnston (Austin Stacks), C McGibney (Churchill), D Hobbert (Austin Stacks); A Tuohy (Austin Stacks), H Murphy (Austin Stacks); D Harty (Churchill), A Harty (Churchill), M O’Connor (Ballymacelligott); J Diggin (Austin Stacks), R Onyekwere (Kerins O’Rahillys), M Somers (St Senan’s).

Sub: L O’Carroll (Churchill) for Diggin (35).

CASHEL CS: K O’Neill (Boherlahan); G Ryan (New Inn), R O’Mahony (Fethard), W Colville (Rockwell/Rosegreen); S Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams), N O’Flynn (Fethard), T Mereacre (Cashel); S Cooney (Clerihan), E Rice (Clerihan); H Fogarty (Golden), C Walsh (Fethard), C Hall (Golden); B O’Donoghue (Cashel), E Ryan (Cashel), C Fogarty (Boherlahan Dualla).

Subs: H Hickey (Clerihan) for Hall, inj (50), T O’Connor (Cashel) for Mereacre (50), J Finn (Golden) for C Fogarty (54).

Referee: S Carey (Ahane, Limerick).