Coláiste Naomh Cormac denied by Borrisoleigh boys
Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior Hurling ‘C’ Final
St Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh 2-17 Coláiste Naomh Cormac 2-12
By Kevin Egan
Coláiste Naomh Cormac’s bid to win a third All-Ireland senior schools hurling title in just five years fell short against a talented and balanced St. Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh side in Borrisokane this afternoon (Friday).
A huge crowd took advantage of the spring sunshine and the packed house made for a wonderful occasion, but it took just too long for CNC to rise to it, and it was only when they went ten points behind that they started to produce the type of play that this group is capable of.
When they were on song, they were fantastic, but after expending a world of energy and heart to get to just a single point behind, they didn’t quite have enough left to see it out and with typical efficiency, St. Joseph’s wrapped up their win with four points on the spin from a variety of angles.
Twenty years on from when a St. Joseph’s side featuring Seamus Callanan and Brendan Maher couldn’t quite get there at All-Ireland level, this team was dominated by players from Borris-Ileigh and Toomevara.
They played a controlled sweeper system that suited them down to the ground as they slowed down the ball coming out of the Offaly school’s backline, while at the other end CNC struggled to make it stick, instead having to try for scores from distance. That led to a half-time wide count of eight to three on a still day, while St. Joseph’s were also on target with their two goal opportunities and CNC’s James Hennessy slammed a penalty into the foot of the post.
The throw-in being delayed by five minutes to allow the huge crowd to make their way into the North Tipp venue showed the level of public interest. And within 60 seconds of the game getting underway, the first massive roar of the day came when Cody Quirke blocked down an attempted pass from James McLoughlin in the CNC goal, lifting and striking to the net from close range.
There were classy points at either end from Jack Dunican, Mairtín Ryan, Eoin Ryan, Quirke and Michael Ryan, but the excellent midfield play of team captain Micheál Collins in particular was a trump card for St. Joseph’s, who led by 2-8 to 0-5 at the turnaround.
Fast forward 15 minutes into the second half and the lead was now ten, with two more glorious CNC goal chances having gone askew. The angle looked too tight when Hennessy won a hard ball in the left corner and went to slam it into the roof of the net but once the twine danced, there was hope.
Some 60 seconds later, Lochlann Fletcher played an inviting pass across the middle that Mairtín Ryan flicked to the net, and there was a game on. By now Luke Bracken, James Dooley and Fiachra Carroll were dominating the middle and a series of treacherous deliveries were sent into the St. Joseph’s goalmouth, but time and again Oisín Ryan and Daniel Groome made the catch or the batted clearance to keep their goal intact.
Aaron Screeney knocked over a couple of points to reduce the lead to the bare minimum but there was to be a final kick in St. Joseph’s, enough to see them home. Team captain Micheál Collins landed a high pressure 65, Shane Ryan nailed a couple of frees and split the uprights from a tricky angle on the left hand side, and the Michael Cusack Cup was theirs.
Scorers - St. Joseph’s: Shane Ryan (4f) and Micheál Collins (4f, 1 65) 0-6 each; Michael Ryan 1-2; Cody Quirke 1-1; Liam Hackett and Eoin Ryan 0-1 each. Coláiste Naomh Cormac: Jack Dunican 0-4 (2f) and Aaron Screeney (2f, 1 65) 0-4 each; James Hennessy and Mairtín Ryan 1-1 each; Fiachra Carroll 0-2.
St. Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh - Oisín Ryan; Cormac Frend, Daniel Groome, Adam Whyte; Ciarán Troy, David Rabbitte, Jack Gould; Micheál Collins, Cathal Kennedy; Eoin Ryan, Shane Ryan, Michael Ryan; Liam Hackett, Eoghan Anderson, Cody Quirke. Subs: Mark Hoare for Rabbitte (46 mins), Billy O’Brien for E Ryan (47), Tadhg Kelly for Troy (52), Rabbitte for Anderson (59), Darragh Kelly for Quirke (60+3).
Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac - James McLoughlin; Niall Fitzgerald, Tomás Carroll, Seán Cleary; AJ Bracken, Luke Bracken, James Dooley; James Hennessy, Joe Quinn; Seán Gill, Fiachra Carroll, Oisín McKeown; Lochlann Fletcher, Máirtín Ryan, Jack Dunican. Subs: James Lynch for Cleary, Aaron Screeney for McKeown (both half-time).
Referee - John Bugler (Clare).