Champions St Joseph's lay down early Harty Cup marker against Midleton CBS

Nenagh outfit raised four green flags at Kilmallock, three in the first half

FLYING: KJ Dunne, St Joseph's, celebrates scoring a goal against Midleton CBS with Tom C Walsh and Daniel Guiney hitting the ground. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh 4-20 Midleton CBS 1-18 

A first-half hat-trick and a dominant final 20 minutes helped St Joseph’s CBS of Nenagh to open their TUS Dr Harty Cup campaign with victory over Midleton CBS in Kilmallock on Thursday.

While the final scoreline showed an 11-point loss, it was a slightly unfair reflection on a Midleton side that that responded well to a four-point half-time deficit by going ahead on the restart with five points on the trot.

However, the effort expended meant that the east Cork side were unable to stop Nenagh when the holders found their rhythm again. While a huge free from goalkeeper Tom C Walsh – his second – left the deficit at two points, 3-13 to 1-17, with 13 minutes of normal time remaining, they would only add one more point to their tally while Nenagh kicked on impressively.

Josh Moroney in possession against Midleton CBS. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

KJ Dunne, who had got their three first-half goals, took over free-taking duties and extended the lead before sub James O’Dwyer got his second of the day.

Tom Boland slung over a pair of points after being moved from midfield into more of an attacking role and while Ben Geary’s free for Midleton made it a five-point game again, it was their last foray.

Another Nenagh sub, Micheál Hutchinson, got in on the scoring act while Éanna Tucker had his third point to cap a superb display at wing-forward. At the death, extra gloss was added as Charlie Kennedy had a goal effort brilliantly saved by Walsh before Boland was on hand to convert the loose ball.

It was a game bookended by Nenagh goals – less than 49 seconds were on the clock when a delivery from influential centre-back Hugo Healy was won well by Dunne before his turn created space to allow him to fire to the net.

That lead was immediately wiped out as Cormac Deane’s surging run yielded a Midleton goal but Nenagh had the better of the play in the first quarter, notwithstanding Tom A Walsh standing out in midfield for Midleton while Daniel Guiney did well in the half-back line.

Eanna Tucker, St Joseph's, and Finn Connaughton, Midleton CBS, up for the sliotar. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Dunne’s second Nenagh point made it 1-7 to 1-3 on 12 minutes but Midleton responded well and were level thanks to Walsh only for a second Nenagh goal. On this occasion, Dunne latched on to the loose ball following Conor Dennehy’s block on Rian McCarthy and then crashed home a shot from a narrow angle.

The All-Ireland minor-winning forward would had another goal soon after but for Dennehy’s clearance off the line, however he and Nenagh did not have long to wait as a marvellous individual goal made it 3-9 to 1-10.

Sam Ring’s third point of the day reduced the Midleton arrears before half-time and on the resumption they hit a rich vein of form, with Ring again, Aflie Hennessy and Evan Connolly on target along with two Geary frees as they led for the first time.

O’Dwyer ensured it was only a brief state of affairs though and Nenagh were able to find another gear in the time that remained to show that they will not easily give up their crown.

Scorers for St Joseph’s CBS: KJ Dunne 3-4 (0-2 f), T Boland 1-3, É Tucker, R McGrath, J Moroney (0-1 f) 0-3 each, J O’Dwyer 0-2, M Hutchinson, C Cairns 0-1 each.

Midleton CBS: C Deane 1-2, S Ring, B Geary (0-3f) 0-4 each, A Hennessy, Tom C Walsh (f) 0-2 each, C Ronayne, F Connaughton, Tom A Walsh, E Connolly 0-1 each.

ST JOSEPH’S CBS: S O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); R Hackett (Kiladangan), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), J Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg); J Grace (Burgess), H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), E Kelly (Kiladangan); R Horan (Portroe), T Boland (Kiladangan); É Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg), D Sayers (Moneygall), J Moroney (Ballina); R McGrath (Kiladangan), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs: J O’Dwyer (Kiladangan) for Horan (25, injured), C Cairns (Burgess) for Sayers (39), A O’Callaghan (Portroe) for Moroney (43), M Hutchinson (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for McGrath (56), C McKenna (Portroe) for Heffernan (60+1).

MIDLETON CBS: Tom C Walsh (Aghada); A Brenner (Killeagh), R O’Connell (St Colman’s), C Dennehy (Lisgoold); F Connaughton (Kiltha Óg), S Carroll (Midleton), D Guiney (Carrigtwohill); A Hennessy (Midleton), Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill); E Connolly (Kiltha Óg), C Deane (Killeagh), S Ring (Carrigtwohill); C Ronayane (Kiltha Óg), D Murphy (Lisgoold), B Geary (Killeagh).

Subs: D Sheahan (St Colman’s) for Murphy (43), P O’Connor (Lisgoold) for Ronayne (53), B Cooney (Kiltha Óg) for Connolly (59).

Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick).