Ard Scoil Rís (Limerick) 1-18
Presentation College, Athenry (Galway) 0-20
BRIAN RYAN FIRED a late winner as Limerick and Munster champions Ard Scoil Rís qualified for the Croke Cup final after an epic encounter with Presentation College Athenry in Barefield.
A goal six minutes from time from Conor Boylan gave the Limerick school the lead for the first time, but three quick points in reply from Sean Loftus and two Evan Niland frees drew Athenry level deep in injury-time.
But Ryan showed admirable nerve to score from 50 metres in the 63rd minute to send the Niall Moran-managed Ard Scoil Rís into the final against either Templemore or St Kieran’s College.
With Niland in top form from placed balls Athenry were well deserving of their 0-12 to 0-10 half-time advantage. Indeed it should have been a far stronger lead, but Paraic O’Loughlin and Paul O’Brien added late points to trim the interval advantage.
As good as Niland was at one end, O’Brein was even better at the other for Ard Scoil. He ended with a personal tally of ten points, six of which came in the second-half with the wind at his back.
With just 12 minutes remaining Patrick Foley pushed Athenry into a four-point lead after Niland’s powerful run and they looked likely to push on to the win, but two quick frees from O’Brien and Boylan’s brilliant goal edged the tie in Ard Scoil’s direction.
Indeed Athenry could have won it at the end, but a stunning save from Sean Mullane denied Mark Kennedy a goal, and moments later Ryan stepped up with his first point of the game to seal the win.
Scorers for ard Scoil Rís: P O’Brien 0-10 (8f, 1’65), C Boylan 1-1, P O’Loughlin 0-4, P Casey 0-2, B Ryan 0-1.
Presentation Athenry: E Niland 0-9 (8f, 1’65), P Foley 0-4, S Loftus 0-2, B Concannon 0-2, L Forde 0-2, R Hardiman 0-1.
ARDSCOIL RÍS
16. Sean Mullane (Mungret)
2. Sean Hogan (Adare)
3. Sean Phelan (Broadford)
4. Ronan Connolly (Adare)
5. Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Nathan Fox (Parteen)
7. Conor Houlihan (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Brian Ryan (South Liberties)
9. John Flynn (Patrickswell)
10. Darragh Carroll (Kilteely/Dromkeen)
15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Paraic O’Loughlin (Clonlara)
12. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
14. P O’Brien (Mungret)
11. David Fitzgerald (Clonlara)
Subs:
18. Cian Moriarty (Clonlara) for Fitzgerald (42 mins)
19. Joe Gleeson (Na Piarsaigh) for Carroll (57)
PRESENTATION COLLEGE ATHENRY
1. Mark Fahy (Turloughmore)
4. Fionan Garvey (Abbeyknockmoy)
3. Ian O’Shea (Athenry)
2. Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge)
5. Andrew Greaney (Craughwell)
6. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly)
25. Hugh Lane (Clarinbridge)
9. Sean Loftus (Turloughmore)
10. Patrick Foley (Clarinbridge)
19. Cian Salmon (Clarinbridge)
15. Liam Forde (Ardrahan)
12. Conor Walsh (Turloughmore)
13. Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
11. Ronan Hardiman (Athenry)
14. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
Subs:
28. Aaron Martyn (Clarinbridge) for Garvey (33 mins)
18. Oisin Connolly (Castlegar) for Greaney (47)
20. Mark Kennedy (Clarinbridge) for Hardiman (54)
22. William Corcoran (Clarinbridge) for Walsh (58).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
