Thurles CBS have too much for Árdscoil Rís in Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

ARDSCOIL Rís were defeated by Thurles CBS 2-25 to 0-23 in the Dr Harty Cup quarter-final on Monday afternoon in the University of Limerick North Campus 4G Pitch.

Thurles CBS had too much in the end for their Limerick opponents. Ardscoil Rís were without Sean Arthur, James Coughlan and Marc O'Brien who all the missed the clash through injury. 

11 players from Limerick featured in the Ardscoil Rís starting XV on Monday afternoon. Adare clubman Patrick Kearney has been in impressive form coming into this clash scoring 2-23 for Ardscoil Rís throughout the competition

Niall Crowe's Ardscoil charges recorded victories over Castletroy College, Our Lady's College Templemore and Colaiste Choilm during their group campaign. Thurles CBS defeated Our Lady's College Templemore in the preliminary quarter-final to reach the last eight. 

The Limerick school started brightly when wing back Eoin Brosnan intercepted a loose pass and Brosnan split the posts from distance. 

David Costigan, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Cillian Minogue and Robbie Ryan pushed Thurles CBS into the lead for the first time in the space of three minutes. 

Ardscoil regrouped through Patrick Kearney, Eoin Brosnan and Michael Collins on seven minutes to level matters for the second time. The sides were now deadlocked 0-4 apeice. 

Fitzpatrick and Costigan were finding oceans of space in the Thurles CBS half forward line, both players were on target once again and the Tipperary outfit were now 0-7 to 0-5 in front. The north circular road school battled back scoring the next three points in-a-row and Michael Collins put his school ahead by the minimium. 

Ardscoil Rís looked to be in a good position entering the second quarter of the first half. 

Thurles CBS response was excellent. Thurles scored 2-10 without reply in the remaining 12 minutes of the first half. On 22 minutes the sliotar fell to corner forward Jack Hayes and Hayes cooly slotted the sliotar into the back of the net. Before half-time Thurles CBS squeezed an Ardscoil Rís sideline forcing a turnover and sharpshooter Cormac Fitzpatrick raised his side's second green flag of the afternoon. 

Ardscoil Rís trailed 2-17 to 0-8 at the break and Crowe's side needed to produce a sensational performance if they were to turn things around. 

Thurles had asserted their dominance on this encounter in the early stages of the second half. Efforts from Minogue, Fitzpatrick and Jack Hayes proved their side were showing no sign of complacency. 

Patrick Kearney reduced the gap through a 65 and a placed ball for Ardscoil Rís. The victors led 2-20 to 0-11 after 38 minutes. 

Ardscoil battled away despite the scoreline. In the remaining 22 minutes of the second half, last year's Harty Cup finalists outscored their opponents 0-12 to 0-5. 

Their half back line of Darragh Gleeson, Jack Cosgrave and Eoin Brosnan were proving to be the leaders. Brosnan landed three points from range in that period. Cormac Fitzpatrick continued his accuracy in front of goals as Thurles CBS held on for a comfotable eight point victory in the end. 

Na Piarsaigh's Eoin Brosnan and Michael Collins were the standout performers in their side's defeat scoring 0-10 between them. 

SCORERS:

Thurles CBS: Cormac Fitzpatrick (1-10, 0-7 frees), Jack Hayes 1-2, David Costigan and Cillian Minogue 0-4 each, Robbie Ryan 0-3, Keith Loughnane and Killian Cantwell 0-1 each 

 Ardscoil Rís: Eoin Brosnan and Michael Collins 0-5 each, Patrick Kearney (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Ian O’Brien 0-3, Jack Cosgrave 0-2, Eoin Begley, Darragh Gleeson, John O’Keeffe and Cillian Murphy 0-1 each.

Ardscoil Rís: Darragh Jordan (Na Piarsaigh); Conor Ryan (Adare), Sean Morrissey (Captain, Dromin Athlacca), Adam Fitzsimons (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), Darragh Glesson (Adare), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane); Malachy McKenna (Pallasgreen), Conor Ryan Conlon (Ahane);  Oisin O'Byrne (Crecora Mainster), John O'Connor (Ahane), Michael Collins (Clonlara); Eoin Begley (Clonlara), Ian O'Brien (Clonlara), Patrick Kearney (Adare). 

SUBS: Evan Ryan (South Liberties) for Fitzsimons (half-time), John O'Keefe (Murroe Boher) for O'Byrne (half-time), Riain Horgan (Murroe-Boher) for O'Connor (half-time), Cillian Murphy (Sixmilebridge) for Begley (43 minutes), Gavin O'Brien (Kilmallock) for Ryan Conlon (57 minutes). 

Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane; Toby Corbett , Evan Morris, Jack Lahart; Killian Cantwell, Keith Loughnane, Ryan Bargary; Euan Murray, Kieran Rossiter; James Butler, David Costigan, Cormac Fitzpatrick; Jack Hayes, Cillian Minogue Robbie Ryan (Captain). 

SUBS: Tiernan Ryan for Loughnane (45 minutes, injury), Darragh Hickey for Barygary (49 minutes, injury) Leelan Donoghue for Hayes (53 minutes), Ronan O'Brien for Minogue (57 minutes), 

REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)