Nenagh hit the goal trail to pip Flannan's for Harty Cup top spot

Nenagh CBS went to town on fellow Tipp school Cashel with score difference crucial. 

Patrick Hackett, Nenagh CBS, in possession against Noah O'Flynn, Cashel Community School, in the Harty Cup. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Harty Cup: Nenagh CBS 7-18 Cashel CS 0-8 

Nenagh CBS assured themselves of knockout hurling, and with it top spot, as they brushed aside the challenge of already eliminated Cashel Community School. Played on the Clare portion of the University of Limerick campus, the Tipperary derby was unfortunately far from competitive, with Nenagh chasing a large margin of victory.

Having drawn with St. Flannan’s in the opening round, the 2023 winners were well-placed before Wednesday’s contest thanks a victory over Ardscoil Ris a fortnight ago. With St Flannan's playing at the same time, Nenagh knew a big victory - a 20-point margin as it turned out - would be needed to overhaul St. Flannan’s for top spot, if the Clare side won their game. With that in mind, CBS hunted goals from early on.

Five green flags arrived in the opening half, with a 19-point interval lead showing the gap in quality and certainly interest between the sides. Starring once again was captain Eoghan Doughan, the team captain, and he was well assisted in attack by Paul Cahalan and Nenagh Éire Og’s Billy O’Brien.

Eoghan Doughan, St Joseph's CBS Nenagh, clearing the sliotar against Cashel Community School in the Harty Cup. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

They worked hard on disrupting Cashel and forcing pressure onto their delivery of ball towards a forward line that was largely second best against a resolute Nenagh defence. The scores came at ease at one end and for Cashel, their eight first half wides appeared familiar – having endured a similar level of wastage in round two.

Goals on five and six minutes from Cahalan and Hugo Healy set the pace, with Eimhin Ryan eventually getting Anthoy Roche’s men off the mark. Motivation is an important part in any sport and naturally, there was little for a Cashel side who had decent showings from Charlie Walsh and Senan Mackey.

Two green flags for Doughan arrived on 13 and 23 minutes with Patrick Hackett doing plenty of the spade work for the second of those. A second major from Cahalan moved them closer to their scoring target while a fine point from Shane Cooney gave some cheer to Cashel.

The second half was won by 12 points, 2-10 to 0-4 with a lull in the Nenagh display at times, as subs and a few minor injuries disrupting the flow. Goals bookended the half, with Emmet Jones on hand to finish off number five, before Doughan setting up Borrisoleigh’s Patrick Ryan for the seventh in stoppage time.

Cashel failed to score in the final quarter with Senan Mackey (three) and James Finn accounting for their four second half points.

By the time the last 1-2 arrived for Donach O’Donnell’s men late on, they were well placed on the scoring stakes with this side certainly one to avoid in the quarter-final draw.

Scorers for St. Joseph’s CBS Nenagh: E Doughan (2-8; 4f, 1 ’65); P Cahalan (2-1); E Jones (1-1); P Hackett (1-1); P Ryan (1-0); B O’Brien (0-2); E Tucker (0-2); H Healy (0-1); E Grace (0-1); D O’Dwyer (0-1) 

Scorers for Cashel Community School: S Cooney (0-3); S Mackey (0-3; 2f); A Toomey (0-1); J Finn (0-1).

ST. JOSEPH’S CBS NENAGH: P McCormack (Moneygall); D Fogarty (Kiladangan), D McKelvey (Silvermines), C Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Jones (Nenagh Éire Og), D O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs); H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), A Duff (Toomevara); E Tucker (Nenagh Éire Og). E Doughan (C) (Moneygall), P Cahalan (Burgress); P Ryan (Borrisoleigh), P Hackett (Toomevara), B O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Og).

Subs: C Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Healy (49); C Kennedy for Hackett (50); J Grace (Burgess) for Cleary (55); D O’Donoghue (Burgess) for Jones (55); E Grace (Silvermines) for Cahalan (56).

CASHEL COMMUNITY SCHOOL: K O’Neill (Boherlahan-Dulla); S Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams), N O’Flynn (Fethard), T O’Connor (Cashel King Cormacs); C Walsh (Fethard), B O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), S Cooney (Clerihan); R O’Mahony (Fethard), W Colville (Rosegreen); J Finn (Golden Kilfeacle), T Meracre (Cashel King Cormacs), E Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs); A Toomey (Boherlahan-Dulla), C Fogarty (Golden Kilfeacle); E Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs).

Subs: H Fogarty (Golden-Kilfeacle) for Toomey (inj – 15); E Rice (Clerihan for Meracre (42); J O’Gara (Holycross-Ballycahill) for E Ryan (45).

Referee: E Stapleton (Doon).