Ardscoil Rís defeated in injury time by Cashel CS in Harty Cup semi-final

The Limerick city school missed out on a seventh Harty Cup final after a dramatic defeat in today’s last four tie.

Adam Daly proved the hero for Cashel CS as they ended Ardscoil Rís defence of their All-Ireland title with a one-point win in today’s Dr Harty Cup semi-final in Kilmallock.

His last-minute point was the difference between the sides as it ended 1-12 to 0-14 as they move into their first final since 1973. It also ends Ardscoil Rís hopes of retaining their All-Ireland title with Cashel now guaranteed to move into the All-Ireland series.

Cashel led 0-8 to 0-6 after a tough-fought first half where the sides exchanged ten wides.

Marc O’Brien opened the scoring in Kilmallock with Cashel guilty of a couple of early wides.

Ronan Connolly, who notched 0-8 in the first meeting of the sides got his team off the mark with a customary long range free to level proceedings with fellow joint captain Ben Currivan giving them the lead.

Ardscoil Ris free taker Fintan Fitzgerald replied with a pair from placed balls but scores from Connolly and Daly had Cashel two in front after a quarter of an hour.

Mikey Gavin added his name to the scoresheet with a brilliant long-range score after Fitzgerald supplied him with a clever kick pass.

Daly and David McGrath gave Cashel the first three-point lead of the day but a quickfire double from Michael Collins had it back to the minimum approaching injury time.

But Ardscoil couldn’t draw level with four successive wides while Daly’s third was enough for a two-point half-time advantage.

Marc O’Brien had it back to a one point game with the first score of the second half.

Cashel found the breakthrough goal five minutes after the restart, Daly delivering into the path of Currivane who in then fed David McGrath who made no mistake into the corner of the net.

Needing a score, Ardscoil found the response from Jamie Moylan a minute later. Fitzgerald made it 1-8 to 0-9 after slotting a difficult free from the sideline.

Another super effort from Mikey Gavin further reduced the deficit. Ardscoil nearly took the lead from substitute Daniel Scully but his goal bound flick was stopped on the line. 

But Fitzgerald did get the leveller with 11 minutes to play, firing over his fourth free.

Connolly ended a fifteen minute wait for a score but wides followed from Daly and McGrath with Fitzgerald levelling with seven to play.

Connolly was then equal to a task with a free from his own half. But he couldn’t convert an arguably easier effort a minute later to leave just one between them.

But as he did in the quarter, John O’Keeffe came up from corner back to fire over the leveller. However his opposite number followed suit for Cashel.

Again it was Fitzgerald to level, this time for the seventh time as the clock ticked into the red. But it was Daly who had the final say in the 61st minute as Cashel end a 50-year wait for a Harty Cup final.

Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: Fintan Fitzgerald (0-6, 6frees), Michael Collins, Marc O’Brien, Mikey Gavin (all 0-2), Jamie Moylan and John O’Keeffe (0-1)

Ardscoil Ris: Eoin Deegan (Cratloe), John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), Sean McMahon (Smith O’Briens), Sean Morrissey (Dromin Athlacca Banogue); Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), Cian Scully (Dromin Athlacca Banogue), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Mikey Gavin (Ballybrown), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara), Shane Gleeson (Adare), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); Michael Collins (Clonlara), Daire Neville (Cratloe), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe).

Subs Used: Sam Hickey (Adare), Daniel Scully (Dromin Athlacca Banogue), Jim Beary (Na Piarsaigh), Eoin Begley (Clonlara)