Ardscoil Ris rally to earn late Harty Cup draw against Midleton CBS

GAA Coverage in association with Lyons of Limerick Ford

IT WAS a share of the spoils in an entertaining Dr Harty Cup clash on Wednesday as Ardscoil Ris drew with Midleton CBS 0-16 to 1-13 in Kilmallock.

With the other game in the group between Gaelcholaiste Mhuire and Nenagh CBS also finishing level, it is all to play for when the Limerick school take on the defending champions in round 3.

The side managed by former inter-county hurlers Niall Moran, Cormac O’Donovan and Paul Flanagan had to fight to leave Kilmallock with a point in this fascinating clash.

Limerick U20 goalkeeper Alex Kearns, playing out the field for his school, held his nerve with late frees to ensure Ardscoil remained unbeaten.

On a day where there was plenty of skill on show, the finishing let both teams down.

The Cork side had 1-8 of their tally from placed balls while the North Circular Road youngsters only had four players on the scoresheet over the hour.

After taking a bit of time to settle, Ardscoil found their range and had Tom Slattery, Shane Waters, Eamon O’Sullivan and Kearns score points.

They led 0-5 to 0-3 midway through the opening period and seemed to have the game under control.

This changed however, as a long ball wasn’t dealt with and the dangerous Ben Geary slipped between full-back and goalkeeper to be through on goal. He was pulled to the ground giving referee John O’Halloran no option but to give the penalty.

Up stepped goalkeeper Tom C Walsh who made no mistake with the finish.

But Ardscoil came back and quickly regathered the momentum.

Slattery scored three from play in the first half as they pushed out in front.

However, a superb score from John O’Sullivan meant the east Cork school only trailed by two at the change of ends.

The Limerick school will be frustrated that a slow start to the second half followed.

Geary punished all indiscretions from frees but from open play Midleton CBS was far from perfect.

Goalkeeper Walsh gave them the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t push more than a point ahead.

Waters - who was superb from open play - handed free-taking duties to clubmate Kearns, and the Na Piarsaigh man didn’t feel the pressure from the loud travelling support as he pointed late on, including one on 60 minutes to earn his side a draw.

“We’re happy with a point on the board, we’re still well in contention of getting out of the group and competing in the Harty going forward,” said Ardscoil mentor Cormac O’Donovan.

“Everyone is chasing two points but it’s still a step forward and we’ll regroup and go again the next day.”

SCORERS - ARDSCOIL RIS: Alex Kearns 0-7 (5f); Shane Waters 0-4 (2f); Tom Slattery 0-3; Eamon O’Sullivan 0-2; MIDLETON CBS: Tom C Walsh 1-3 (1-0 pen, 3f); Ben Geary 0-6 (5f); Cormac Deane, John O’Sullivan, Conor Roynane and Alex Fogarty 0-1 each.

ARDSCOIL RIS: Sam Collins (Crecora-Manister); Callum Butler (Patrickswell), Rowan Collins (Adare), Evan Ryan (South Liberties); James Canty (Adare), William Ryan (Murroe-Boher), Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell); Tom Slattery (Clarecastle), Xavier Neligan (Kilmallock); Ian O’Brien (Cratloe), Rian Horgan (Murroe-Boher), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh); Eamon O’Sullivan (Adare), Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh), Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock); Subs: Cian Hickey (Crecora-Manister) for E Ryan (37 mins); Billy Gavin (Ballybrown) for R Horgan (45 mins); John Ross O’Reilly (Ballybrown) for G O’Brien (51 mins).

MIDLETON CBS: Tom C Walsh; Finn Cahill, Rian O'Connell, Daniel Guiney; Alex Fogarty, Tom A Walsh, Senan Carroll; Alfie Hennessey, Andrew Brenner; Conor Ronayne, Cormac Deane, Daniel Sheahan; John O’Sullivan, Sam Ring, Ben Geary; Subs: Dylan Mulcahy for Sheahan (37 mins); Dean Murphy for Ring (57 mins).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree, Limerick).