John the Baptist CS & Thurles CBS draw in breathtaking Harty Cup 1/4 Final

John the Baptist COmmunity School Hospital and Thurles CBS will have to do it all again after their epic Harty Cup Quarter Final finished level, 4-28 to 3-31 after two periods of extra time in Dundrum today.

The game began with the sides trading points in the opening five minutes with the score deadlocked at 0-2 to 0-2. Thurles notched the next score, but it would be the final time they held the lead in the half as Hospital took control.

With ten minutes on the clock, Hospital lead by 0-5 to 0-4 and had this lead extended to three within five minutes. Patrick Reale then netted for the Limerick school to push their advantage out to six points with fifteen minutes remaining in the half.

Thurles responded with three points in succession to close the deficit before the sides began to trade points as the half came to a close. When the referee blew his whistle to bring to an end a brilliant opening half, Hospital held a 1-13 to 0-11 lead.

The opening five minutes of the second half were frantic with both sides trading goals. Thurles gained the upper hand and on 40 minutes they had levelled the game at 2-13 to 1-16. They would score next to find their first lead since early in the first half.

However, Hospital rallied and would score three in succession to bring the score to 2-16 to 1-17. Heading into injury time Hospital held a three point lead at 2-19 to 1-19. The sides exchanged points as time ran out.

Yet, there was to be one last twist in the tale as CBS struck a last second goal to send the game to extra time as it finished 2-20 a piece.

CBS continued in Extra Time where they left off and had 1-3 on the board without reply. Hospital once again rallied and hit 1-2 with no response to leave the score at 3-23 to 3-22 in favour of CBS at half time of extra time.

The Limerick school would level within one minute of the restart before the sides once again exchanged a brace of points each with the score at 3-25 each.

CBS pulled clear again before Hospital levelled late on to send the game to a second period of extra time!

The sides each had a point in the second period of extra time as the first half finished 3-27 to 3-27. CBS pulled two clear before JTBCS goaled to give them a one point advantage.

However, CBS struck again with a brace of points to regain the lead.

But, refusing to surrender, John the Baptist notched the last score of the game through a monster free from Dylan O’Shea to leave the sides level after 90 minutes and to send the game to a replay.