Ardscoil Rís gunning for Harty Cup final place
LIMERICK school Ardscoil Rís face Thurles CBS in Kilmallock this afternoon with a place in the 2023/24 Harty Cup final on offer.
Ardscoil came through their Limerick derby semi-final with John the Baptist CS, Hospital a couple of weeks ago and face a Thurles outfit that beat St Flannan's to reach the stage.
Liam Cronin's charges are unbeaten coming into today's game having come out of a group that included Flannan's De La Salle College, Waterford and Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig.
Victories in all three games set up the quarter-final with John the Baptist and a four-point winning margin in that game puts them one step away from a final place, their first since 2022.
Ardscoil have five Harty Cup titles since their breakthrough in 2010 and have been the dominant Limerick school in the competition ever since.
They have only one loss in the decider - against St Joseph's of Tulla two years ago but they went on to earn All-Ireland honours.
The North Circular Road school have talent littered all over the pitch with a healthy mix of Limerick underage players and several of last year's Clare All-Ireland winning minor team.
Michael Collins has been exceptional throughout from half forward with Mungret and Limerick U20 star Fintan Fitzgerald directing operations from centre forward.
Jamie Moylan has been a towering presence at centre back and is well flanked on either side by James Finn and Daniel Scully., while Danny Chaplin has been unerring from frees up front.
Ardscoil take on a Thurles side that have also excelled in this year's Harty Cup. The impressive win over Flannan's in the quarter-final showed their pedigree with the likes of Cormac Fitzpatrick and Robbie Ryan to the fore for Eamonn Buckley's side.
Thurles are very strong defensively and have a very strong spine. However, Ardscoil are yet to hit full form in the competition and Cronin will be hopeful that they can reach near their best to advance to the final.
The game has a 12.30pm start in Kilmallock.