Derby delight for John the Baptist Hospital after defeat of Castletroy College in Dr Harty Cup

RESOLUTE John the Baptist Community School, Hospital made a winning start to the Dr Harty Cup, Munster post primary schools senior 'A' hurling campaign, when overcoming Limerick rivals Castletroy College 2-14 to 1-10 in filthy wet conditions at ULs North Campus on Wednesday afternoon.

Midfielder Owen Meany, of Bruff, turned in a hugely impressive display for John the Baptist, helping himself to 1-8 of their tally, including three excellent points from play.

The influential Meany, who was a Limerick U20 panel member this year and who played inter-county minor hurling in 2022, blasted a 42nd minute penalty to the net after the influential Hugh Murnane was fouled to help Hospital into the lead at 1-9 to 1-8.

Despite being down to 14 players, John the Baptist finished the game impressively, outscoring their Limerick rivals 1-5 to 0-1 in the final quarter to seal a deserved victory.

The winners second goal arrived courtesy of Caherline player Murnane in stoppage time. Diarmuid Hurley fired over three points from play during the course of the game.

Castletroy had enjoyed a useful four point advantage at half-time, 1-8 to 0-7, thanks to a smashing eighth minute goal from impressive Limerick minor Dara Ferland in the 13th minute after he was cleverly set up by Matthew Fitzgerald.

However, while the Newtown school managed to add just two points to their tally in the second half, John the Baptist racked up a match-winning haul of 2-6.

The game had been due to be played in Bruff but was switched to ULs North Campus as a result of the heavy rain which fell throughout Wednesday morning and well into the afternoon.

Next up in the battle for knock-out places in Group 5, which is a three-team group, is the meeting of Castletroy College and CBS Carrick on Suir on October 25.

John the Baptist are then due to face CBS Carrick on Suir in Round 3 on November 15.

SCORERS: John the Baptist CS, Hospital: Owen Meany 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), Hugh Murnane 1-1, Diarmuid Hurley 0-3, Griffin McCaffrey, Barry Callinan 0-1 each. Castletroy College: Dara Ferland 1-7 (0-7 frees), Matthew Fitzgerald, David Carr, Luke Ryan 0-1 each.

JOHN THE BAPTIST CS, HOSPITAL: Lorcan Costelloe (Hospital-Herbertstown), Niall McNamara (Pallasgreen), Shane Treacy (Staker Wallace), Niall Connaughton (Caherline), Declan Heavey (Garryspillane), Sean Casey (Bruff), Fionnan Leahy (Knockainey), Owen Meany (Bruff), Michael Leo (Knockainey), Griffin McCaffrey (Hospital-Herbertstown), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane), Barry Callinan (Bruff), Diarmuid Hurley (Hospital-Herbertstown), Shane Ryan (Garryspillane), Hugh Murnane (Caherline). SUBS: Scott Ryan (Ballybricken-Bohermore) for Callinan (59 mins), Charlie Cronin (Bruff) for McCaffrey (60 mins).

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Robbie Widger (Monaleen); Marcus Southern (Monaleen), Paul Canny (Monaleen), Denis Blackwell (Ahane); Tom McCarthy (Monaleen), Cian Scully (Monaleen), Tom D'Arcy (Monaleen), Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), David Carr (Ahane), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Luke Ryan (Monaleen); Darragh Humphries (Ahane), Cathal O'Mara (Ahane), Mark Field (Monaleen). SUBS: Harry McDermott (Monaleen) for Humphries (29 mins), Barry Griffin (Monaleen) for Ryan (56 mins), Cillian Clifford (Monaleen) for D'Arcy (57 mins).

REFEREE: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon).