Nenagh CBS 2-16
Ardscoil Rís 0-21
ANDY HOOLAN’S STOPPAGE time goal meant he and Nenagh CBS have their place in Harty Cup history, as the Tipperary school secured the Dr. Harty Cup for the very first time, with Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís trumped by the late drama.
The U19 Schools hurling final had all the quality expected for this grade, and Ennis provided a suitable venue for the 3,014 spectators. There was little to separate the sides throughout, but Ardscoil had a hand on the silverware when Patrick Kearney put them two ahead with the two additional minutes elapsed.
However, Nenagh, as with their semi-final win, didn’t read the script and they eventually got the goal to take the title. Before the late dramatics, the sides regularly swapped the advantage, with Nenagh’s strong finish to the opening half repelling a quality Ardscoil start.
Fintan Fitzgerald was key to a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage, his fourth point the pick of the bunch as he tied the Tipperary defence in knots.
There were contributions too from Daniel Chaplin and Marc O’Brien, while in reply, Darragh McCarthy led for Nenagh.
McCarthy, captain of the side, was sharp from frees and play and he was joined by Eoghan Doughan, who helped them stay in touch. The half closed with the opening goal, substitute Austin Duff rattling the net for a quickfire 1-1 from the Toomevara man.
Neither side could break free during a tense second half, but Eoin Begley, O’Brien (free) and Kearney hit three on the trot to put Ardscoil clear. There was time for another chance, first a stunning Fionn O’Brien save to deny Brian O’Meara, then a Hoolan effort which nestled in the bottom corner.
History made, with a third new winner on the bounce; St. Joseph’s of Tulla (2022), Cashel Community School (2023) and now Nenagh CBS.
Scorers for Nenagh CBS: Darragh McCarthy 0-7 (0-4 frees); Austin Duff 1-1; Andy Hoolan 1-0; Eoghan Doughan 0-3; Mason Cawley 0-3; Ciaran Foley 0-2.
Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: Fintan Fitzgerald, Marc O’Brien (0-1 frees) 0-5 each; Danny Chaplin (0-2frees), Michael Collins 0-3 each; Eoin Begley 0-2; Darragh Gleeson, Daniel Scully, Patrick Kearney 0-1 each.
Nenagh CBS (all Tipperary):
Simon Grace (Ballina)
Conor Grace (Burgess), Cian Connolly (Nenagh Éire Óg), Gavin McGrath (Kiladangan)
Jack Doran (Toomevara), Jake Hackett (Toomevara), Andy Hoolan (Moneygall)
Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Jack Mulcahy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara, Capt), Zack Keller (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Aodhan O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg), Danny Quinn (Silvermines), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall)
Subs:
Austin Duff (Toomevara) for Quinn (25)
Darragh Treacy (Silvermines) for Keller (48)
Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess) for Mulcahy (51)
Ardscoil Rís (Limerick unless stated):
Fionn O’Brien (Bruree)
John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), Sean McMahon (Smith O’Briens, Clare), Sean Morrissey (Dromin-Athlacca)
James Finn (Na Piarsaigh), Jamie Moylan (Cratloe, Clare), Diarmuid Scully (Dromin-Athlacca)
Riain McNamara (Cratloe, Clare), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge, Clare)
Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara, Clare), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), Michael Collins (Clonlara, Clare)
Danny Chaplin (Sixmilebridge, Clare), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe, Clare), Eoin Begley (Clonlara, Clare)
Subs:
Darragh Gleeson (Adare) for O’Keeffe (half-time)
Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Chaplin (39)
Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for O’Connor (55)
Jack Cosgrove for Stritch (58)
Sean Arthur (Newmarket on Fergus) for Collins (63)
Excellent analysis of all the pieces of the jigsaw of moves leading to great tries
Great analysis as always. What an atmosphere yesterday. Delighted for Sexton and Healy!!! What a Six Nations send off
@Kenneth O Connor: Healy not getting a run was disappointing and strange
@Noel Lynn: He did… only about 4 minutes but he did play.
Yesterday(and last week) should put to bed any doubt about Conan’s value. Every bit as effective as Doris imo.
@Gary Donlan: doris level ahead
@Gary Donlan: I’m a big, big fan of Conan – he’s an outstanding player – but I’d have to acknowledge that Doris is at the very top of the global tree. And he has so much more to grow, being so young. Arguably a future World Player of the Year nominee, if not winner.
I see lots of people saying how England really used line speed yesterday to get in Irelands face, that’s not what happened at all. England played a soft drift defence, not putting too much pressure on the first carrier / passer, and not committing too many men to the breakdown, opting to be more disruptive and messy rather than look for turnovers. It was an interesting tactic and one that threw a lot of the Irish players off, particularly Furlong who takes the first pivot option quite often. Ireland will need to learn how to adapt to it by World Cup, I can’t imagine South Africa or France would try it, they would trust their line speed, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Scotland or even New Zealand thought about using it.
Great analysis there. It shows really how intelligent this group are. Dorris, JVF,, Aki, Sexton, Hansen running subplots and dummies lines and how they build a try 3 phases out. To have so many on the same page is extraordinary and as Farrell said, they will get a lot better over the next few months with more time collectively in camp.
Roll on the WC
It was squeaky bum time for much of the game. England gave it everything. Ireland found a way to win. Work done with decoy runners is magnificent. Enjoy, upwards and onwards to France
That was some offload by Conan for sheehans try.
Sheehan is a pure speed merchant
@Gary Galligan: He’s a 4×4 at full speed.
On the strike plays which Ireland use we have seen a few of these in this 6 nations I believe they have only used a small number of these in this 6 nations and there are many more which they had no need to use and they are been reserved for the later stages of the world Cup.
I would imagine when Farrell and his team review this game they will be a little concerned. Obviously the short term gain here, winning a grand slam, is brilliant. But there was a lot of pressure going into the game and we did not handle it well. Ultimately a red card may have won it for Ireland and whether you agree or disagree with the card the nature of it shows it can how easily happen under current rules. (There was at least 1 red card possibility for us that was missed by the ref and TMO). This team will ultimately be judged on how it performs in the World Cup. When they meet Scotland on the 7th of October it will more than likely be a knock out game. The pressure on them will easily be as intense as yesterday, probably more so. They will need to be a lot better. If we don’t make it out of the group, this Grand Slam will lose a lot of it’s shine. Of course hopefully by the time we meet Scotland SA will have 2 losses so it won’t matter :)
@Pud: OTOH, the experience of yesterday, a real pressure cooker, will stand to them. Plus, those guys played a lot of intense rugby over a short period of time. Some were definitely not at their best, following injuries (Furlong, for example, looked rusty; Henshaw wasn’t fully up to speed; Ringrose in and out). Farrell took some risks, playing guys like Porter, VDF, Keenan, Hansen and others to their limits (Keenan looked tired yesterday, as did others). The player management plan for the RWC needs to cater for the interactive effects of physical endurance and how it affects mental/emotional resilience. I’m pretty confident they’re on top of that. And again, all the players will be better for the experience of this 6N.
@Pud: South Africa then Scotland…followed by France or New Zealand…three massive banana skins….I don’t think if we are stopped before semi final, yesterday’s outstanding achievement will be diminished….cruel world cup draw.
Herring sealed victory over the All Blacks with a similar try in the third test .. hooker is definitely a position we don’t need to worry about… bench again made the difference yesterday
Murray Kinsella, single handedly helping other teams work out Ireland!!