JOHN the Baptist Community School, Hospital recorded a 2-14 to 1-9 victory over Scoil Na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon in round two of the Dr Harty Cup in Kilmallock GAA Grounds on Wednesday afternoon.
The Hospital school took an early lead in the first half and managed to maintain it, securing an eight-point victory in the Limerick derby between the schools.
It was a must-win encounter for both schools after suffering defeats in the opening round of the Dr Harty Cup. Thurles CBS overcame Hospital, while Blackwater Community School proved too strong for Doon in round one.
John The Baptist Community School will battle it out for a place in the knock-out stages against Blackwater Community School in two weeks’ time. After two defeats, Doon cannot progress into the quarter-finals of the competition.
Michael Martin’s side were full value for the victory and despite missing Limerick U20 hurler Diarmuid Hurley and Rian McNamara through injury they showed enough quality to get their first win in the Harty Cup this year.
John The Baptist Community School started brightly leading by 0-3 after five minutes through Tiernan Ryan and Kevin Hennessy. Scoil Na Tríonóide Naofa regrouped and reduced the gap to one point on 12 minutes with Denis Blackmore and Diarmuid Crowe raisng white flags for the east Limerick school.
Tiernan Ryan added two more placed balls and Sean O’Dwyer set up Shane O’Dea for his opening point to stretch last year’s Harty Cup preliminary quarter-finalists 0-6 to 0-2 in front. On 22 minutes, John The Baptist Community School wing back John O’Riordan played the sliotar across the bar and Tiernan Ryan son of former Limerick hurler Donie Ryan reacted quickest to finish the sliotar into the back of the net.
However, Doon began to claw their way back into the game when Denis Blackmore and Josh McLoughlin pointed to make it 1-7 to 0-5. Tiernan Ryan and John O’Riordan combined to put the Hospital outfit back into a seven-point lead but Diarmuid Crowe replied before the break as Doon trailed 1-9 to 0-6 at the interval.
The crucial score came immediately after half-time when Rory Hanly broke through the Doon defence and fired his shot past Noah Murphy Ryan. On 36minutes, Shane O’Dea pushed John The Baptist Community School into a ten point lead.
Doon responded as Crowe struck his first point from play, and soon after, a long ball was delivered to the edge of the square where Conor Kenny pulled on the sliotar along the ground and sent it into the net.
Ciarán Gantley then found space in the middle third and added another point, making it 2-10 to 1-8 at the end of the third quarter, with Doon beginning to stage a comeback.
William Ryan took over the free taking duties and two placed balls courtesy of Ryan gave Hospital some breathing space. In the final eight minutes, Brian O’Grady’s side could only manage an effort from Gantley as substitutes Christian Higgins and Evan Martin sealed an eight point victory for John The Baptist Community School.
SCORERS:
JOHN THE BAPTIST COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HOSPITAL: Tiernan Ryan (1-5, 0-5 frees), Rory Hanley 1-0, William Ryan (0-2, 0-2 frees), Shane O’Dea 0-2, Kevin Hennessy, Evan Martin, Christian Higgins, John O’Riordan and Conor Shanahan 0-1 each.
SCOIL NA TRÍONÓIDE NAOFA, DOON: Conor Kenny 1-0, Diarmuid Crowe (0-3, 0-2 frees), Ciaran Gantley 0-3, Denis Blackmore 0-2, Josh McLoughlin 0-1
JOHN THE BAPTIST COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HOSPITAL: Ciarán Hyland (Garryspillane); Eoin Clifford (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Adam Gleeson (Hospital-Herbertstown), Kevin Hennessy (Hospital-Herbertstown); Seán Tiernan (Caherline), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), John O’Riordan (Bruff); Sean O’Dwyer (Caherline), Rory Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore); Conor Shanahan (Bruff), Shane O’Dea (Hospital-Herbertstown), William Ryan (Hospital-Herbertstown); Sam Mitchell (Knockainey), Conor O’Dwyer (Pallasgreen), Tiernan Ryan (Garryspillane).
SUBS: Evan Martin (Caherline) for Conor O’Dwyer (41 minutes), Christian Higgins for Sean O’Dwyer (54 minutes), Garrett Murrane (Bruff) for Shanahan (57 minutes).
SCOIL NA TRÍONÓIDE NAOFA: Noah Murphy Ryan (Pallasgreen); James Ryan (Cappamore), Fionn Roche (Doon), Pakie Richardson (Doon); Charlie Stokes (Pallasgreen), Eamon Richardson (Doon), Cathal Mulcahy (Cappamore); Diarmuid Crowe (Doon), Sean Hanley (Doon); Denis Blackmore (Doon), Daire Long (Pallasgreen), Darragh Coughlan (Doon); Jonathon Dawson (Seán Treacys), Josh McLoughlin (Doon), Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite).
SUBS: Hugh Maher (Doon) for Ryan (Half-time), George Maher for Stokes (Half-Time), Conor Kenny (Doon) for Mulcahy (Half-Time), Jack Taheny (Doon) for Dawson (52 minutes).
REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree).