Ardscoil Rís begin Harty Cup campaign with impressive win over St Flannan's

ARDSCOIL RÍS put in an impressive performance in beating St Flannan's in their opening Dr Harty Cup group game on a 0-14 to 0-8 scoreline in Sixmilebridge.

The game was played in dreadful conditions but Ardscoil were full value for their victory with Mungret's Fintan Fitzgerald putting in a superb performance at centre forward. Flannan's top scorer was Bruff and Limerick minor Tadgh Boddy.

In near impossible underfoot conditions, it was Liam Cronin's side that made a flying start to the game with James Finn and Fitzgerald getting early scores.

Flannan's fought back to level but efforts from Diarmuid Stritch and Danny Chaplin had the Limerick school 0-5 to 0-2 with 13 minutes on the clock.

A second for Stritch increased their dominance but Ardscoil had keeper Fionn O'Brien to thank to keep that lead intact with a fine stop to deny Luca Cleary a goal for Flannan's.

Boddy nailed the resulting '65 but three superb strikes from Fitzgerald helped Ardscoil Ris to a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

The expected comeback from a well-fancied Flannan's outfit never materialised with Jamie Moylan putting in an excellent performance as the free man in the Ardscoil defence.

Marc O'Brien came off the bench to get a fine score that was immediately backed up by one from Matthew O'Halloran that helped Ardscoil to a six-point winning margin.

SCORERS - ARDSCOIL RÍS: Fintan Fitzgerald 0-6 (0-3 frees), Danny Chaplin 0-3 (0-2 frees), Diarmuid Stritch 0-2, James Finn, Marc O'Brien and Matthew O'Halloran 0-1 each.

SCORERS - ST FLANNAN'S: Tadgh Boddy 0-6 (0-5 frees, '65), Fred Hegarty 0-2.

ARDSCOIL RÍS: Fionn O’Brien (Bruree); John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), Sean McMahon (Smith O’Briens), Sean Morrissey (Dromin-Athlacca); James Finn (Na Piarsaigh), Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), Daniel Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Riain McNamara (Cratloe), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Danny Chaplin (Sixmilebridge), Daire Neville (Cratloe), Eoin Begley (Clonlara).

SUBS: Marc O'Brien (Cratloe (for Neville (36 mins), Eoin Carey (Cratloe) for Morrissey (36 mins), Darragh Gleeson (Adare) for Begley (48 mins), James Coughlan (Ballybrown) for Finn (58 mins), Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul's) for Chaplin (60 mins).

ST FLANNAN'S: Cian Howard (Éire Óg Inis); Joe Casey (Kilmaley), Fiachra O'Braoin (Sixmilebridge), Paddy Nagle (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); Frankie Meaney (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona); Evan Price (Clarecastle); Ian Williams (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), Ronan Kilroy (Banner); Tadgh Boddy (Bruff), Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Jack Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona); Kieran McDonnell (Ballyea), Luca Cleary (Éire Óg Inis), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle).

SUBS: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg Inis) for McDonnell (38 mins), Mark O'Connor (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield) for Williams (47 mins), Gearoid Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Cleary (54 mins).