Harty Cup: Shane Waters leads the way as Ardscoil Rís withstand late Gaelcholáiste Mhuire rally

Nathan Ó Cofaigh battles with Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG North Mon as they seek a late goal in the Dr Harty Cup Round 1 game at Castlelyons. Pic Larry Cummins

Dr Harty Cup: Ardscoil Rís 0-22 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG An Mhainistir Thuaidh 1-16 

Ardscoil Rís join St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh as frontrunners in Group 2 of the TUS Dr Harty Cup after they secured a hard-earned victory over Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG An Mhainistir Thuaidh in Castlelyons on Friday. 

Shane Waters’ eighth point in the 56th minute put the Limerick school six clear but Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG kept fighting and late points from Micheál Mac An Ghaill, Callum Ó Cofaigh and Darragh De Barra made for a down-to-the-wire conclusion.

In a dramatic finish and backed by the strong breeze, the Cork side pumped ball after ball into the Ardscoil Rís danger area, but it was in vain, thanks to courageous defending.

Tempers flared in a cagey first quarter, after which the teams were tied 0-4 apiece.

Ardscoil Rís started to pull away with a run of unanswered points from Gavin O’Brien, Eamon O’Sullivan, David Moran, Waters and Alex Kearns to lead by double scores approaching half time.

Callum Barrett’s monster strike and Kearns’ second left them 0-13 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

Callum Ó Cofaigh made up five of his team’s total.

The margin remained at seven at the three-quarter mark.

But when the hard-working Ó Cofaigh netted from a long Gabhan Ó Ceallacháin free in the 47th minute, the AG were back in business.

However, on the home stretch, it was Ardscoil Rís who managed to keep their cool.

Next up for the Cork side are Nenagh CBS, while Ardscoil Rís take on Midleton CBS.

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: S Waters (0-8, 0-1 65, 0-5 frees), A Kearns and E O’Sullivan (0-3 each), D Moran and G O’Brien (0-2 each), C Butler, E Hennessy, I O’Brien and R Collins (0-1 each).

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG An Mhainistir Thuaidh: C Ó Cofaigh (1-9, 0-6 frees), G Ó Ceallacháin (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 65), M Mac An Ghaill, N Ó Cofaigh, C Ó Cuinneagáin, D De Barra and J Ó Cathaláin (0-1 each).

ARDSCOIL RÍS: S Collins (Crecora); J Canty (Adare), W Ryan (Murroe Boher), E Ryan (South Liberties); C Butler (Patrickswell), E Hennessy (Patrickswell), R Collins (Adare); T Slattery (Clarecastle), X Neligan (Kilmallock); A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh), S Waters (Na Piarsaigh), I O’Brien (Cratloe); E O’Sullivan (Adare), G O’Brien (Kilmallock), D Moran (Ahane).

Capt: R Horgan (Murroe Boher).

Subs: B Gavin (Ballybrown) for T Slattery (53), J Ross O’Reilly (Ballybrown) for A Kearns (56), C Hickey (Crecora) for J Canty (60).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG AN MHAINISTIR THUAIDH: G Ó Ceallacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); E Swan Kent (Naomh Uinseann), S Ó Laocha (Naomh Uinseann, V-Capt), R Ó Buachalla (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); C Ó Cuinneagáin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), R Ó Caoinleáin (Na Piarsaigh), M Mac An Ghaill (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); S Ó Meachair (Delanys), N Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh, V-Capt); D De Barra (Dúbhghlas), R Ó Croidheáin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), S De Búrca (Na Piarsaigh); D Ó Cathasaigh (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Cathaláin (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: T Ó Murchú (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for J Ó Cathaláin (46 inj), S Ó Muirí (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for D Ó Cathasaigh (51), J Ó Donnabháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for R Ó Croidheáin (55).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).