Ardscoil withstand late Coachford flurry to book Dean Ryan final place

Ardscoil Rís march on to the Dean Ryan Cup final against CBC

Coachford’s Tadhg Murphy stretches to reach the ball in the TUS Corn An Rianaigh (17AH) semi-final against Ardscoil Rís. Picture Chani Anderson.

Dean Ryan Cup semi-final: Ardscoil Rís 1-23 Coachford College 2-15 

Coachford College finished with fire, but the contest had long since tilted Limerick’s way. Ardscoil Rís seized control in the second minute and never once loosened their grip, Coachford chasing shadows until that late, breathless surge in added time of this semi-final.

And so it’s Ardscoil who march on to the Dean Ryan Cup final against CBC, having seen off Coachford by five on Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s all-weather pitch on Friday afternoon.

They were still asked a fierce question in the final minutes. Gavin O’Brien’s third point had pushed Ardscoil 11 clear on 57, but Jack Casey immediately hit back. Then Tadhg Murphy’s shot at goal was saved by Sam Collins, only for Ciarán Lyons to seize the rebound and whip it to the net on 60 minutes.

Two minutes of added time later and Coachford were through again, Sean Hogan and Fionn Buckley combining for the latter’s green flag to shave the margin to four. But Ardscoil had scoring threats dotted everywhere, and sub John Ross O’Reilly fired the final point to restore a five-point cushion.

It’s worth noting that all of this came without Clare minor Ian O’Brien, ruled out through injury, yet Ardscoil wasted no time settling with the breeze.

Colm Ryan recovered Billy Gavin’s short point attempt to lash into the net and put Ardscoil in front after 80 seconds. By the time Coachford registered, Ardscoil had 1-3 on the board, though the Cork school were unlucky not to add a goal. Hogan’s brilliant touch, take, and driving run was denied only by a brilliant Collins’ save in the fourth minute.

A neat Cillian Honohan effort left it 1-4 to 0-2 after 11 minutes, and when Murphy’s free was tipped over, the margin stood at 1-6 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.

Ardscoil Rís goalkeeper Sam Collins makes a save following a free in the TUS Corn An Rianaigh (17AH) semi-final against Coachford. Picture Chani Anderson.

But the second quarter belonged entirely to Ardscoil. They struck eight of the next 11 points to build a commanding 1-14 to 0-7 interval lead, with Limerick minor Shane Waters steady from frees and corner-back Cian Hickey superb throughout.

Coachford needed a flying restart with the wind, and four of the first five scores – three frees from Murphy – cut the gap to seven by the 37th minute.

But Ardscoil, assured once more, restored the advantage seamlessly. Four points from four different scorers pushed them 1-19 to 0-11 clear with 19 left to play.

The pace eased in the final quarter, each Coachford point answered swiftly in kind. The 11-point lead remained intact late on, and although Coachford trimmed it dramatically in stoppage time, the result was never in doubt.

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: S Waters 0-6 (0-5 f), C Ryan 1-1, D Moran, G O’Brien 0-3 each, E O’Sullivan, X Neligan (0-1 f), O Sherlock, J Ross O’Reilly 0-2 each, R Horgan, A Kelly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Coachford College: T Murphy 0-9 (0-8 f), F Buckley 1-1, C Lyons 1-0, C Honohan 0-2, S Hogan, J Casey, J Barry 0-1 each.

ARDSCOIL RÍS: S Collins (Crecora Manister); W Ryan (Murroe Boher), R Collins (Adare), C Hickey (Crecora Manister); D Horgan (Murroe Boher), E Hennessy (Patrickswell), S Waters (Na Piarsaigh); D Moran (Adare), A Kelly (Cratloe); C Ryan (Newport), B Gavin (Ballybrown), G O’Brien (Kilmallock); R Horgan (Murroe Boher), X Neligan (Kilmallock), E O’Sullivan (Adare).

Subs: O Sherlock (Cratloe) for Kelly (9 inj), C Butler (Patrickswell) for Horgan (HT), J Ross O’Reilly (Ballybrown) for O’Sullivan (40), K O’Neill (Murroe Boher) for R Collins (42), S O’Brien (Na Piarsaigh) for Hickey (50).

COACHFORD COLLEGE: F O’Leary (Cloughduv); C Healy (Cloughduv), M Twomey (Aghabullogue), S Collins (Cloughduv); C O’Riordan (Blarney), L Buckley (Cloughduv), G O’Callaghan (Dripsey); D Buckley (Aghabullogue), J Casey (Éire Óg); J Barry (Cloughduv), T Murphy (Cloughduv), C Lyons (Inniscarra); C Honohan (Donoughmore), F Buckley (Donoughmore), S Hogan (Éire Óg).

Subs: C Twomey (Aghabullogue) for Healy (HT-38 temp), Twomey for Barry (51), T Buckley (Aghabullogue) for Collins (57), C O’Connell (Donoughmore) for L Buckley (59).

Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven)