Watch and read: Flannan's power into Harty knockouts with victory over John the Baptist

TUS Harty Cup Round 2: St. Flannan’s College 3-19 John the Baptist CS 0-16 

Among the favourites to collect the silverware on offer in the Dr. Harty Cup, St. Flannan’s College, Ennis breezed to a second victory and further enhanced their credentials in a competition the school continues to have a love affair with.

Seeing off John the Baptist Community School, from Limerick, the Ennis nursery bagged a second double-digit victory at a dry TUS Midwest campus. 

They have now qualified from the group with a game to spare.

But for a strong Hospital finish to the opening half, this contest was largely one-way traffic. The Limerick school had some quality, including All-Ireland minor winner John O’Riordan who was among those to fight to the bitter end.

However, a second defeat on the trot means they exit the competition, having lost to CBC Cork in the opening round. St. Flannan’s face Our Lady’s Templemore, to decide top spot.

Goals from Luke Vaughan and Riain O’Donnell, which arrived in the space of just over two second half minutes, saw them pull clear and ease to the win.

Vaughan’s first goal, on 16 minutes, had the Ennis outfit ahead 1-9 to 0-9 by half-time. They were efficient in attack, used the ball well when they won it and would have found scope for improvement too, having come off second best on many of the puckouts, at either end.

The Limerick school did bring a level of fight and quality to the opening half, but despite this laying the foundations, scores were hard to come by. They would trail 1-5 to 0-2 when Eire Og’s Vaughaun batted in the opening goal, with Sean O’Dywer and Christian Higgins on target.

Graham Ball was at the heart of the Flannan’s effort and he, along with Conor Coffey and Isaac Hassett were among the first half scorers.

Five points to close the half, however, gave the Limerick school encouragement. Michael Hanly’s long-range effort was the pick of the scores.

The gap was back to just two early in the second half, as O’Riordan and Higgins (free) cancelled out Donnacha Mahon’s point. Either side of the half, Cian McAllister preserved his clean sheet in the Flannan’s goal two good saves.

However, the next 2-6 all went to the Clare men.

Hassett, Coffey three from sub-Ben Talty punished every Hospital error, while Vaughan soon found his second goal. He turned provider for O’Donnell, from Cursheen, to end the game as a contest on 46 minutes.

Talty made a significant impact during his second half cameo. The powerful Clarecastle forward will be a huge weapon in the schools bid to collect a 23rd Dr. Harty Cup title.

John the Baptist did finish with some flurry of scores, but nothing to worry the boys in blue who it appears have yet to fully have to flex their muscles in the competition. The pick of the points came from Colm Cleary but it was all in vein for Michael Martin’s youngsters.

Scorers for St. Flannan’s College: L Vaughan 2-1; R O’Donnell 1-2; B Talty 0-4; G Ball (one free), C Coffey (two frees) 0-3 each; I Hassett, D Mahon 0-2 each; F Daffey, R Ralph 0-1 each.

Scorers for John the Baptist CS: J O’Riordan 0-5 (3f); C Higgins 0-4 (frees); M Hanly (one free), S O’Dwyer 0-2 each; C Shanahan, C Cleary, J Ryan 0-1 each.

St Flannan’s College: C McAllister (Ballyea); F Duignan (Banner), D Murrihy (Inagh-Kilnamona), D O’Donovan (Clooney-Quin); O Duignan (Banner), C Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), F Daffey (Inagh-Kilnamona); G Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), I Hassett (Clooney-Quin); D Mahon (Clooney/Quin), S Dileen (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), R O’Donnell (Crusheen); C Coffey (Banner), M Kennedy (Ballyea), L Vaughan (Éire Óg).

Subs: E O’Connor (Ballyea) for Kennedy, B Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Dilleen (both half-time); R Ralph (Clarecastle) for Hassett (46); D Moran (Corofin) for Ball (50); C Moroney (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Daly (56).

John the Baptist CS: C Hyland (Garryspillane); S Mitchell (Knockainey), K Hennessy (Hospital-Herberstown), L Ellevsen (Hospital-Herberstown); C Cleary (Knockainey), M Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), J McMahon (Hospital-Herbertstown); J O’Riordan (Bruff), C Shanahan (Bruff); S O’Dwyer (Caherline), K Quinn (Hospital-Herbertstown), C O’Dwyer (Pallasgreen); C Donnelly (Bruff), C Higgins (Hospital-Herbertstown), R Martin (Ballybricken-Bohermore).

Subs: J Ryan (Knockainey) for C O’Dwyer (25); E Lonergan (Emly) for Higgins (40); C McCaffrey (Hospital-Herbertstown) for Shanahan (inj – 47); D O’Sullivan (Hospital-Herbertstown) for Martin (59); Daniel Barry (Ballybricken-Bohermore) for Cleary (60).

Referee:

E Stapleton (Doon, Limerick).

Footage courtesy of Clubber TV.