Preview | Ardscoil Ris seek seventh Harty Cup final place since 2010 as they take on Cashel CS in Kilmallock

The City outfit are just an hour away from a seventh final since 2010 as they lost in last year’s decider before going on to win the All-Ireland title.

Ardscoil Rís are just one game away from returning to the Dr Harty Cup final as they meet Cashel CS in the semi-finals of the championship this Saturday in Kilmallock at 12.30pm.

Liam Cronin’s outfit are the reigning All-Ireland champions but were beaten in last year’s decider by first-time winners St Joseph’s Tulla. Nonetheless, they went on to claim a maiden All-Ireland title on St Patricks Day.

Saturday’s clash is a rematch of their epic opening round encounter where Ardscoil snatched the spoils late on with a thrilling 3-12 to 1-15 win in Cappamore.

Shane Gleeson proved the difference as his last-minute goal stole victory in injury time for the North Circular road school.

With a draw on the cards, the Adare hurler pounced on Cian Scully’s delivery as last year’s Munster finalists got off to the perfect start.

That was their first-ever game as All-Ireland champions and a pair of wins have followed since that result as they booked their place in the knockout stages with a two-point win over 2020 champions St Flannans.

Last week a final quarter surge was enough to see off a spirited Our Lady’s Templemore side in UL as they claimed a 1-22 to 1-16 victory.

However, Cashel have plotted an impressive path to the last four with the result against the Limerick school their only reversal thus far. They kicked off their campaign with a 5-12 to 2-20 victory over Flannans before the defeat at Ardscoil’s hands.

In the quarter-finals, they saw off a strong Cork CBC side 1-13 to 0-13 with joint captain Ben Currivane getting the crucial score. Ronan Connolly is the other joint-captain and the rangy midfield was very impressive in the loss to Ardscoil last November where he hit over 0-8 with two coming from play.

Ardscoil Rís have a number of Limerick players among their ranks with seven of the starting team hailing from the Treaty county. Mungret St Pauls’ Fintan Fitzgerald was their scorer in chief in the quarter-finals as he clipped over 0-10 with four coming from play. Shane Gleeson (Adare), Mike Gavin (Ballybrown) and corner back John O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) were also among the scorers.

Cian Scully (Dromin Athlacca Banogue) anchored the defence at centre-back with clubmate Sean Morrissey in the corner and Na Piarsaigh’s James Finn at wing-back. Adare duo Sam Hickey and Patrick Kearney were introduced in the second period.

Path to the semi-final

Ardscoil Rís

• Rd1: Bt Cashel CS 3-12 to 1-15
• Rd2: Bt St Flannans 0-12 to 0-10
• QF: Bt Our Lady’s Templemore 1-22 to 1-17

Cashel CS

• Rd1: Bt St Flannans 5-12 to 2-20
• Rd2: Lost to Ardscoil Rís 0-15 to 3-12
• QF: Bt CBC Cork 1-13 to 0-13

Ardscoil Rís have become the kings of the competition since their maiden success back in 2010.

The North Circular road school had future All-Ireland winners Declan Hannon and Shane Dowling as joint-captains as they beat Thurles CBS after a three-game epic. They followed that up with a win over Charleville CBS the following spring and brought their tally to five in 2018 where they defeated Midleton CBS.

Last year was their sixth final appearance in twelve years but it was a first defeat in the decider for the Limerick school as outsiders Tulla upset the odds.

Meanwhile, Cahel CS will be keen to end a 50-year wait for a place in the Dr Harty Cup final with their sole appearance coming in 1973 when they were defeated by St Finbarr’s College who completed a three-in-a-row.