PREVIEW | Ardscoil Rís look for Harty Cup quarter-final qualification against St Flannans

The All-Ireland champions conclude the group stage of the Munster championship against rivals St Flannans.

Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís will look to top their Harty Cup group today as they face St Flannans of Ennis in Sixmilebridge. A draw or win would see them top the group with a two-point defeat also enough for them to top the group. If St Flannan’s were to win by three, then they would advance alongside Cashel with Ardscoil knocked out.

Ardscoil got off to a winning start in the group courtesy of a last-minute Shane Gleeson goal which gave the North circular men a 3-12 to 1-15 victory over Cashel. The City school were level at the interval at 2-6 to 1-9 after an Adam Daly goal for the Tipp side prior to the half time whistle. The game looked set to finish level before Cian Scully, who finsihed with 1-6, found Gleeson for the win.

Cashel, who had a one point victory over Flannans in round 1 with a 5-12 to 2-20 scoreline, are relying on an Ard Scoil victory today if they want progression to the next round of proceedings. A draw today would also be enough for the Tipp school.

Despite the losing start, Flannans will go into this game with a lot of confidence after putting up a big score against the Tipperary men especially Clarecastle man Oisin Whelan who notched an impressive 1-11 in the opener, including four points from play. Flannans will hope he can have a similar impact today against Ballybrown man and Ardscoil joint-captain Michael Gavin, one of the surviving starting players of last year’s Croke Cup winning team, who himself had a fine game last time out.

The Ennis school were the 2020 Harty Cup champions. The defending champions however exited the competition in the group stages last year after a one point defeat to Cashel and they will be keen on rectifying that this year.

Ardscoil made the final of last year’s competition, ultimately losing to Tulla by three points before regrouping and beating St Kierans of Kilkenny to win a first Croke Cup title.

Ardscoil Ris will come into the game on a high after they won this year’s Dean Ryan final with a two-point victory over Thurles CBS last week. Micheal Collins and Marc O’Brien from that team were brought off the bench during the opening-round Harty win over Cashel, scoring three points between them. Ardscoil Rís will have a number of the U16 1/2 panel at their disposal today.

If they are to win, the City side will compete in the quarter finals in January.

6Ardscoil play St Flannans at 1:30 in Sixmilebridge in Round three of The Dr Harty Cup this Wednesday the 16th of November