Thurles Information

Yesterday the much anticipated second replay of the Dr Harty Cup final, between champions Thurles CBS and  Ardscoil Ris,  took place in McDonagh Park, Nenagh, at 2.30pm.

The final result saw Árdscoil Rís bring Limerick’s 17-year search for the Dr. Harty Cup title to an end when they saw off  the defending Munster and All-Ireland champions, with a massive ten points to spare.

Ardscoil Ris now have become the first Limerick team, since the Sexton Street CBS in 1993, to win the trophy and Thurles must  quickly regroup for next Monday’s All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with Kilkenny CBS.

After two previous epic encounters finished level, yet another big crowd arrived in Nenagh for part three of this saga, with an official attendance of almost 2,000 and with  U-16s  admitted free of charge.

Ardscoil Ris got off to a flying start when Niall Kennedy’s  long-range shot found its way into the net in just the third minute of play.
Goals from Kevin Downes and Brendan O’Connor helped Árdscoil Rís into a 2-7 to 0-8 interval lead before Mark Ryan’s second half three-pointer sent the Limerick school well on its way to victory.
CBS came roaring back with a succession of four unanswered points before half-time to cut the  lead to 0-8 to 2-7, however with the wind advantage yet to play it was not to be their day this year.

Pat Ralph slotted over three points from midfield for the Thurles camp, but while they had scoring contributions from six other players, no fewer than nine Ardscoil Ris players found their intended targets.

Final result – Ardscoil Rís 3-15 – Thurles CBS 0-14.

Pictures courtesy J.O’Loughlin.

Meanwhile, Tipperary Senior’s have named their team to play Galway in Sunday’s Allianz GAA Hurling National League Division 1 clash in Thurles.

Tipperary have made four changes from the side which defeated Kilkenny last weekend.

Paddy Stapleton, Michael Cahill, Seamus Hennessy and Jody Brennan come in to replace Paul Curran, Thomas Stapleton, Benny Dunne and Micheál Webster.

The fifteen Tipperary squad to play Galway on Sunday in Thurles is as follows

Brendan Cummins, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Brendan Maher, Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony, Shane Maher, Michael Cahill, Shane McGrath, Seamus Hennessy, Jody Brennan, John O’Brien, Eoin Kelly(captain) Lar Corbett, Noel McGrath.

Throw-in is set for 2.30pm.

Reigning All Ireland champions Kilkenny failed to show previous form against old rivals Tipperary, in this afternoon’s re-fixed Allianz NHL Division 1 hurling clash in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Paidraig Maher Tipperary reaches high against Kilkenny

This long awaited game took place under pleasant Spring sunshine on the third time of asking. Two previous attempts having being cancelled because of heavy snowy conditions forcing last minute postponement.

This afternoon a 20,000 plus following were admitted free of charge to the mecca of Tipperary Hurling, which saw both teams meet for the first time since Kilkenny retained the All-Ireland title back last September.

Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly and Padraic Maher were in top form with the latter immersed in a most entertaining battle with Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin for most of the match.

Noel McGrath’s pass to Eoin Kelly, found the Kilkenny goal before half time to put Tipp in the lead 1-06 to Kilkenny’s 0-06.

Despite  finding their rhythm early in the second half , Kilkenny were not as accurate as one would expect and ran up a series of consecutive wides.

John Mulhall managed to close the gap to two points for Kilkenny, but  Jody Brennan and McGrath put the icing on the cake for Tipperary with late points to secure Tipp’s four-point win.

However it was the accuracy of  Tipperary Capt Eoin Kelly, who continued throughout the game, to enhance the score board for Tipperary, with a final personal tally of 1-7.

Final Score: Tipperary 1-14 – Kilkenny 0-13

Picture courtesy J.O’Loughlin