Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore (Tipperary) 2-22
St Colman’s College (Cork) 1-6
By Jackie Cahill at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
THE FAMINE IS over! Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore, are Dr. Harty champions for the first time in 39 years.
Prior to today, Martin Bourke back in 1978 was the only man to captain the school, known then as Templemore CBS, to victory in the prestigious Munster post-primary schools competition.
But Paddy Cadell, a member of Tipperary’s 2016 All-Ireland minor winning side, lifted the trophy amid joyous scenes at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, following a 19-point rout of St Colman’s.
In front of 4,924 spectators, Our Lady’s weren’t going to be denied on this occasion.
They’d lost four finals (2000, 2002, 2013 and 2016) since winning the competition all those years ago but fielding eight of the players who started in last year’s final loss to Ardscoil Rís, Templemore were inspired.
Brian McGrath, captain of the Tipperary minors last year, scored 1-7, Jerry Kelly was superb at wing forward with five points and midfielder Stevie Nolan, who went off bloodied in stoppage time, contributed four points in a power-packed performance.
Skipper Cadell marshalled a rock-solid rearguard as, from the off, Our Lady’s made their intentions clear, racing into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead within nine minutes.
McGrath got the ball rolling with a free before Nolan, Kelly, McGrath again and Andrew Ormonde pointed from play.
9-time champions St Colman’s, in their first Harty final in 14 years, finally got off the mark when wing-back Eoin Roche put over a ninth-minute point but in the opening half, none of their forwards managed to score from play.
Niall O’Leary also contributed from the half-back line while midfielder Diarmuid Lenihan scored two frees.
In contrast, Our Lady’s would finish the first half with five of their six forwards on target, while Nolan contributed three points from midfield.
Ahead to 0-6 to 0-2, Our Lady’s struck for goal in the 17th minute and it was a brilliant Andrew Ormonde effort as he left Kieran Neville trailing in his wake before crashing a shot into the far top corner.
Our Lady’s were almost in for a second goal three minutes before half-time but Ray McCormack’s shot was blocked by St Colman’s goalkeeper Eoin Davis
In first half stoppage time, Our Lady’s managed three points to open up a 1-12 to 0-4 interval lead.
They were full value for that 11-point margin, too, and other scores were left out there as Our Lady’s registered eight wides before the break, compared to just two for St Colman’s.
Our Lady’s were too hot to handle, as McGrath played the ‘link man’ role brilliantly from centre forward, scoring three points and assisting two more in the first half.
A 24th-minute score vividly illustrated how tuned in Our Lady’s were, as Nolan and McGrath played a one-two before Nolan arrowed over a classy score.
David Lardner pointed from play early in the second half as St Colman’s forward finally got on the scoresheet – but that was the sum total of the attacking sextet’s efforts.
O’Leary was the best St Colman’s player on view and after he was shoved into attack, the Castlelyons starlet bagged a 49th-minute goal.
But within a minute, McGrath had cancelled that out at the other end and when he added a free, Our Lady’s were 2-20 to 1-5 ahead.
It was a day when a far superior Our Lady’s outfit would respond to whatever was thrown at them and their commitment to the cause was summed up in stoppage time when Nolan threw his head in the way of Lardner’s shot – and was taken off with blood streaming from his face.
Colman’s will now regroup for an All-Ireland quarter-final clash with St Brigid’s of Loughrea, with Our Lady’s safely through to a Croke Cup semi-final on 11 March.
Scorers for Our Lady’s: Brian McGrath 1-7 (0-2f, 0-2 65s), Jerry Kelly 0-5, Stevie Nolan 0-4, Andrew Ormonde 1-1, Lyndon Fairbrother 0-4 (3f), David O’Shea 0-1.
Scorers for St Colman’s: Niall O’Leary 1-1, Diarmuid Lenihan 0-3 (2f), Eoin Roche & David Lardner 0-1 each.
Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore:
1. Eoin Collins (Drom & Inch)
4. Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
3. Paraic Campion (Drom & Inch)
2. Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney)
5. Neil Quinlan (JK Brackens)
6. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens, Capt)
7. Aidan O’Meara (Drom & Inch)
8. Diarmaid Ryan (Clonakenny)
9. Stevie Nolan (Drom & Inch)
10. David O’Shea (JK Brackens)
11. Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney)
12. Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh)
13. Andrew Ormonde (JK Brackens)
14. Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens)
Subs
19. Shane Doyle (JK Brackens) for McCormack (52)
17. Jack Ryan (Toomevara) for D Ryan (53)
20. Jason Gilmartin (Roscrea) for Ormonde (57)
18. Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy) for O’Shea (59)
22. Delacy Byrne (Clonakenny) for S Ryan (60)
St Colman’s Fermoy
1. Eoin Davis (St Catherine’s)
2. Eoin Wallace (St Catherine’s)
3. Jamie O’Leary (Castlelyons)
4. Kieran Neville (St Catherine’s)
5. Sean McCarthy (Fermoy)
6. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
7. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)
8. Shane O’Connor (Bride Rovers)
9. Diarmuid Lenihan (Ballyhooley)
10. Jamie Sheehan (Kilworth)
11. Barry Murphy (Castlelyons)
12. David Lardner (Fermoy)
13. Conleith Ryan (Bride Rovers)
14. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
15. Adam Creed (Fermoy)
Subs
17. Ross O’Sullivan (Fermoy) for Neville (24)
19. Richard Galvin (St Catherine’s) for Ryan (h.t.)
18. Greg Lardner (Fermoy) for Creed (h.t.)
20. Jake Mehigan (Ballyhooly) for Sheehan (46)
22. Fionnán Hickey (Ballyduff Upper) for Murphy (60+2).
Referee: Rory McGann (Clare)
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