CBC Cork see off Thurles CBS to reach first Dean Ryan Cup final

DEAN RYAN CUP: Tom Huggins, CBC, Cork smashing the ball into the net past CBC, Thurles keeper James Verling. Picture: Dan Linehan

Dean Ryan Cup semi-final: CBC Cork 2-15 Thurles CBS 2-9

Alex Maher and Tom Huggins fired CBC Cork into their first Dean Ryan Cup final with a six-point victory over Thurles CBS at Bansha.

Christians are only establishing themselves at the Munster U17 A hurling grade, yet their third-ever victory in the competition has them into a final against either Ardscoil Rís or Coachford College.

If they tidy up their shooting, they will have every chance. The Sidney Hill school struck 15 wides to Thurles’s one. They were also denied further goals by a handful of fine saves by James Verling. In total, they got off 40 shots against Thurles’s 17.

Their tackling was excellent as Christians permitted just 1-1 from play. Anchored by captain Dessie Carroll and Conor Stack, the Thurles forwards didn’t raise a white flag from play.

A talented Sarsfields duo did most of Christians’ scoring. They were led by 1-8 from Huggins (1-3 from play), while Maher chipped in with four points during a standout performance from midfield.

Thurles threat Chris Dunne matched Huggins’ 1-8 tally entirely from frees.

Despite playing with the wind, Christians trailed 1-8 to 2-6 at half-time. By that juncture, Thurles had converted 100% of their eight shots, while CBC had missed more than half of their 21 attempts.

After a couple of early Dunne frees, Huggins hit back with three of his own. Two were awarded for Thurles overcarrying. In part, that underlined Christians’ intensity. It also owed to some bad luck as opposing helmets became entangled for the latter free.

Midfielder Conor Kennedy raised Thurles’s only point from play before Christians pushed on with Maher advancing to score off left and right.

The game turned with two goals in the space of a minute. Ciarán O’Mahoney found captain Zach O’Keeffe to dispatch the first. Then, Dunne lashed to the net after O’Keeffe was fouled for a close-range free.

Verling denied Huggins an immediate response. The goalkeeper then stopped Jack Punch’s initial attempt, only for the corner-forward to bat home the rebound.

The overworked Verling intervened twice more before the break with an outstanding save from Danny O’Donovan and a block on Ben Hegarty to maintain a one-point lead.

Thurles tested the Christians defence after the restart. Carroll blocked a goal-bound Cathal Lillis shot before Dunne had his first of two frees saved on the line.

At the other end, Bobby Power became the fourth CBC forward to be thwarted by Verling.

Points from O’Donovan, Hegarty, and a Huggins brace saw Christians into a two-point lead before both teams were reduced to 14-a-side.

A melee in front of the stand saw Willie Fitzharris dish out red cards to CBC’s Shea Lynch and Thurles midfielder Kennedy.

While Thurles were left with a spare defender, Maher functioned as an unmarked extra midfielder for the next while. During that spell, he picked off a point and teed up another for Huggins to complete a five-point streak.

They wrapped up the contest in the 55th minute when Maher again found Huggins to tuck away the killer goal.

Scorers for CBC: T Huggins (1-8, 0-5 frees); A Maher (0-4); J Punch (1-0); B Hegarty (0-2); D O’Donovan (0-1).

Scorers for Thurles CBS: C Dunne (1-8, 1-8 frees); Z O’Keeffe (1-0); C Kennedy (0-1).

CBC: K Abdelrazik (Castlelyons); D Cronin (Blarney), C Kelly (Midleton), D Carroll (Carrigaline, capt); C McCarthy (Ballincollig), C Stack (Blackrock), S Riordan (Kilworth); B Hayes (Bishopstown), A Maher (Sarsfields); G Kingston (Mallow), B Hegarty (Ballinora), T Huggins (Sarsfields); J Punch (Blackrock), D O’Donovan (Douglas), B Power (Ballincollig).

Subs: S Lynch (Sliabh Rua) for Punch (h-t), A Kirwin (Blackrock) for O’Donovan (53).

THURLES CBS: J Verling (Dúrlas Óg); H Shanahan (Drom-Inch), S Óg Hayes (Drom-Inch), E Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla); S Gribbon (Clonoulty-Rossmore), C O’Mahoney (Dúrlas Óg), S Lanphier (Moycarkey-Borris); C Kennedy (Clonoulty-Rossmore), T Bourke (Holycross-Ballycahill); C Dunne (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), D Cornally (Dúrlas Óg), D Aylarian (Dúrlas Óg); Z O’Keeffe (Holycross-Ballycahill, capt), C Lillis (Drom-Inch), P Ryan (Killenaule).

Subs: A Rice (Moycarkey-Borris) for Ryan (36), P Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane) for Shanahan (49), C Doherty (Moycarkey-Borris) for Aylarian (51), F Ivors (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Lanphier (59).

Referee: W Fitzharris (Tipperary).