Our Lady’s Templemore (Tipperary) 2-15
De La Salle (Waterford) 2-13
OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE emerged from an extra-time semi-final classic against De La Salle this afternoon to put themselves within an hour of a first Harty Cup title since 1978.
The Tipperary school looked down and out before captain Anthony Ryan salvaged extra-time with a dramatic goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Waterford outfit De La Salle, Harty Cup winners in 2007 and 2008, thought they had completed a remarkable fightback to book their place in a fifth final but Ryan had other ideas.
De La Salle trailed by seven points, 0-6 to 0-13, with 12 minutes left but two brilliant Thomas Douglas goals in the 53rd and 60th minutes rekindled their challenge.
That second goal had De La Salle a point clear, 2-8 to 0-13, before points from Michael Mahony and sub Conor Quinn stretched their advantage.
But there was still time for Kevin Hassett to cut in a late sideline ball, despite referee Joe Larkin indicating that there would be just three additional minutes, and Ryan applied the finishing touch amidst a flurry of hurls to level the tie at 1-13 to 2-10.
The crucial score in extra-time was supplied by Templemore full-forward Jerry Kelly, who kicked to the net in the 68th minute to establish a 2-13 to 2-11 lead at the turnaround.
Templemore held out to reach a first final since 2013 and relief was etched on their faces at the final whistle, as the winners registered 18 wides over the course of the 80-plus minutes.
At half-time in normal time, Templemore were 0-7 to 0-4 in front having played with the breeze from the start.
It was an entertaining tussle from the first minute but the real drama was reserved for later as Our Lady’s set up a final meeting with Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís on February 20.
Other goal chances came and went and De La Salle goalkeeper Ronan Ryan pulled off a quite outstanding save to deny Lyndon Fairbrother in the first minute of extra-time.
Scorers for Our Lady’s Templemore: Anthony Ryan 1-2, Jerry Kelly 1-1, Steven Nolan & Paul Bergin 0-3 each, Brian McGrath (2f) & Lyndon Fairbrother 0-2 each, David O’Shea & Jamie Bergin (sl) 0-1 each.
Scorers for De La Salle: Harry Ruddle 0-7 (6f, 1 sl), Thomas Douglas 2-1, Michael Costigan 0-2 (1f), Paul Hennebry, Michael Mahony & Conor Quinn 0-1 each.
OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE:
1. Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens)
2. Conor O’Meara (Drom & Inch)
3. Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny)
4. Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney)
5. Tom Murphy (JK Brackens)
6. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
7. Kevin Hassett (Drom & Inch)
8. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
9. David O’Shea (JK Brackens)
10. Steven Nolan (Drom & Inch)
11. Anthony Ryan (captain – Loughmore-Castleiney)
12. Jamie Bergin (Drom & Inch)
13. Paul Bergin (Drom & Inch)
14. Jerry Kelly (Borrisoleigh)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens)
Subs:
18. Aidan O’Meara (Drom & Inch) for Kelly (51)
19. Colm Kinnane (Drom & Inch) for P Bergin (58)
14. Jerry Kelly for O’Meara (64)
22. Ray McCormack (Borrisoleigh) for Kinnane (70)
DE LA SALLE:
1. Ronan Ryan (Piltown)
2. Conor Giles Doran (De La Salle)
3. Lee Wall (De La Salle)
4. Gary Cullinane (Passage East)
5. Nick Byrne (Ballygunner)
6. Paul Hennebry (Mooncoin)
7. Mark Kearns (Mooncoin)
8. Donie Power (Passage East)
9. Gavin Coppinger (De La Salle)
10. Harry Ruddle (Ballygunner)
11. Daniel Coady (Erins Own)
12. Michael Costigan (De La Salle)
13. Michael Mahony (Ballygunner)
14. Thomas Douglas (De La Salle)
15. Eoin Daly (Erins Own)
Subs:
19. Billy O’Sullivan (Ballygunner) for Daly (inj, 13)
21. Darragh Walsh (Piltown) for Coady (32)
22. Kevin Hennessy (De La Salle) for Coppinger (44)
28. Conor Quinn (Dunhill) for Ruddle (47)
20. James Stone (De La Salle) for O’Sullivan (52)
10. Harry Ruddle for Hennessy (64)
22. Kevin Hennessy for Stone (70)
19. Billy O’Sullivan for Quinn (72).
Referee: Joe Larkin (Cork)
