Castletroy College maintain Dr Harty Cup knock-out hopes with victory over Carrick-on-Suir

GRITTY Castletroy College maintained their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of this year's Dr Harty Cup Munster Post-Primary Schools U19 'A' hurling competition after recording a hard fought 1-16 to 0-17 victory over Carrick-on-Suir CBS at ULs North Campus on Wednesday afternoon.

Having lost their opening fixture in the three-team group to local rivals John the Baptist Community School, Hospital it was crucial for Castletroy College to record a positive result in their meeting with Carrick-on-Suir.

Castletroy got off to an impressive start in this competitive fixture, racing into a useful 1-6 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

The Limerick side's goal arrived in the eighth minute when Mark Field collected a pass from Robert O'Farrell before rounding his marker and rifling a terrific shot high into the left corner of the net.

The score proved a crucial one, coming in the wake of earlier points from Matthew Fitzgerald and O'Farrell, who helped himself to an impressive haul of five points from play over the hour.

The Limerick side produced an improved showing on their previous display against John the Baptist. Castletroy played with an impressive measure of composure and purpose when in possession of the sliotar in that opening 20 minutes.

Their defensive unit was solid and resolute.

Indeed, Castletroy would have been further ahead had they managed to convert a number good goal scoring opportunities they managed to create in that opening half. 

By half-time, Carrick-on-Suir, who were having their first outing in the competition in 2023, had hauled themselves right back into the contest.

That six-point advantage Castletroy enjoyed with 10 minutes remaining in the opening half was whittled down to a single point by the break, 0-8 to 1-6, as Carrick-on-Suir fired over five points without reply from sharpshooter Niall O'Brien, two frees, the threatening David Comerford, who also managed a brace from play, and Stefan Tobin.

Castletroy were partially aided by a diagonal breeze after the restart and the Newtown side moved three points to the good after 36 minutes, 1-10 to 0-10, thanks to three pointed frees from the highly influential Dara Ferland.

The Castletroy advantage was still at three points, 1-11 to 0-11, after 45 minutes. Back came Carrick-on-Suir with points from Comerford and Tobin, however, to leave just a single point between the teams with a quarter of the game remaining.

There was still only a point between the sides with 10 minutes of an entertaining contest left after O'Brien landed a 50th minute free.

However, it was then that Castetroy showed their mettle and resolve as O'Farrell, from play, and Ferland, with an excellent free from an acute angle, added vital scores which restored their three point advantage at 1-14 to 0-14.

A resilient Carrick-on-Suir side was not done yet, however, as points from Andrew Phelan and O'Brien free brought them to within a single point of their opponents once again at 0-16 to 1-14.

However, Castletroy responded impressively with late points from O'Farrell and Field stretching their lead to three points again, 1-16 to 0-16, before Tobin struck his third from play for Carrick-on-Suir deep in injury time. 

Castletroy will now await the outcome of the final group fixture between John the Baptist Community School, Hospital and Carrick-on-Suir CBS on the week of November 15 which will ultimately decide whether they qualify for the knock-out stages or not.

A win for the Hospital side would see both Limerick schools advance to the knock-out stages. Should Carrick-on-Suir claim victory in the final Group E fixture then scoring difference will come into the equation.

SCORERS: Castletroy College: Dara Ferland 0-8 (0-6 frees, 0-1 '65), Robert O'Farrell 0-5, Mark Field 1-2, Matthew Fitzgerald 0-1. Carrick-on-Suir CBS: Niall O'Brien 0-7 (all frees), David Comerford 0-4, Stefan Tobin 0-3, Gearoid Power 0-2, Andrew Phelan (0-1). 

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Robbie Widger (Monaleen); Tom McCarthy (Monaleen), Paul Canny (Monaleen), Marcus Southern (Monaleen), Tom D'Arcy (Monaleen), Cian Scully (Monaleen), Denis Blackwell (Ahane), Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen); David Carr (Ahane), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Harry McDermott (Monaleen); Blake Campbell (St Patrick's), Cathal O'Mara (Ahane), Mark Field (Monaleen). SUBS: Cillian Clifford (Monaleen) for McDermott (42 mins), Luke Ryan (Monaleen) for Carr (48 mins).

CARRICK-ON-SUIR CBS: Shane Cronin; Ben Moriarty, Eoin Reid (Capt), Cody Phelan, Conor Shankey, Andrew Phelan, Dylan Barry; Eoin Hogan, Darragh Dunne, Aaron O'Halloran, Gearoid Power, Sean Foley; Niall O'Brien, Stefan Tobin, David Comerford. SUB: Calum Smith for Foley (44 mins).