Clare GAA Website

McInerney shines as Ard Scoil Ris overcome Caimins
Harty Cup semi final
ARD SCOIL RIS…….0-16
ST CAIMINS…………0-6
By Michael O Connor.
Revenge for 2009 was the motto being whispered in the halls of Ard Scoil Ris since this pair were matched up. An epic battle 12 months ago ended with Caimins reaching an historic first harty cup final after a replay with the Limerick city school. The smart money entering this tie favoured Ard Scoil Ris who possessed a number of the key performers from 2009 and had won the 2008 dean Ryan final. For their part St Caimins had won their way to the semi final and a match up of results suggested little between the sides. The physical advantage most definitely lay with Niall Moran’s men with Clare players such as Martin Moroney and the inspirational Cathal McInerney in their line up. A number of tough introductions were exchanged by both sides prior to the throw in as the protagonists were up for a battle of wills as much as skill. Aaron Cunningham and Pa Sheehan hit wides in the opening minutes as Ard Scoil raced into a three point lead after ten minutes of early dominance. Indeed as Kevin Downes, Mark Ryan and Declan Hannon scored the early scores it could have been much worse for Caimins as Ard Scoil missed as many more chances. Pa Sheehan from a free finally had Caimins on the scoreboard as the strong attendance in Meelick were willing Caimins to come more into the game to force a viable contest. BY the 20th minute however this looked remote as Hannon (2) and Ryan doubled the Limerick school’s tally to six points to just a sole response from a good score from Paudge Collins. Ironically the Shannon school had as much if not more possession than their opponents but the goals or even points they so badly needed could not be created. A wonderful interception by Cathal McInerney ended with the clare Star pointed from his own 45 yard line. John Fitzgibbon and Adrian Breen hit further scores before a stunning score from Aaron Cunningham rounded off the first half scoring with Ard Scoil confident (0-9) to (0-3) interval leaders. The breeze now favoured St Caimins but without goals they would not be in contention bar a collapse by Ard Scoil. Mark Ryan stretched his sides lead to seven before a brace of scores from Sheehan left Caimins double scores (0-10) to (0-5) in arrears after 35 minutes but once again dominating large tracts of play with no reward. Over the hour Ard Scoil hit 13 wides as opposed to 8 for the Shannon men. Two points in the 45th and 47th minutes from the reliable pair Downes and Hannon left Caimins floundering seven in arrears and never looking like scoring the all vital goals. The nearest Caimins got to piercing the Ard Scoil goal line was a 49th minute effort from Donagh Keogh that was smartly saved by PJ Hall. John Fitzgibbon hit two points in a minute as Noel Purcell was immense in front of the Caimins goal. A word of caution for the Limerick side in the final was their inability to create a goal chance of note during the hour. Pa Sheehan had the final score for Caimins with Kevin Downes and Niall Kennedy rounding off the scoring as Ard Scoil ended the tie ten points to the good and to hear after the final whistle that favourites Thurles CBS will be their opponents in Nenagh in the near future. Best for the winners were Eoghan McCarthy, Sean O Brien, Niall Kennesy, Mark Ryan, Declan Hannon, Kevin Downes, John Fitzgibbon and Cathal McInerney. St Caimins had strong performances without ever hitting the heights of other days from Noel Purcell, Enda Boyce, Tommy Griffin, Niall O Connor, Frank Melody and Padraig Collins.
ARD SCOIL RIS: PJ Hall, Alan Dempsey, Eoghan McCarthy, Martin Moroney, Cathal McInerney, Shane Dowling, Ciaran Keogh, Sean O Brien, Niall Kennedy (0-1), Mark Ryan (0-3), Declan Hannon (0-5), Mark Carmody, John Fitzgibbon (0-3), Kevin Downes (0-3), Adrian Breen (0-1). Subs: Jamie Shanahan for Dowling, Dowling for Dempsey.
ST CAIMINS: Tommy Griffin (Newmarket), Niall O Connor (Newmarket), Noel Purcell (Sixmilebridge), Eanna Burnes (Sixmilebridge), Enda Boyce (Cratloe), Kevin Lynch (Sixmilebridge), Darren O Connor (Newmarket), Cathal O Connor (Sixmilebridge), Frank Melody (Newmarket), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) (0-1), Padraic Collins (Cratloe) (0-1), Donagh Keogh (Newmarket), Shane Liddy ( Newmarket), Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge) (0-4), Alan Mulready (Sixmilebridge).
REFEREE: Willie Barrett (Tipperary).