Heartbreak for Carrick-on-Suir in Harty Cup thriller as Hospital and Castletroy advance
PURE ENTERTAINMENT: After a magnificent hour plus of hurling, a draw gave the Limerick side a safe passage through - a result that didn’t look likely at half-time, when they trailed 2-13 to 0-8. Pix: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
An enthralling TUS Dr Harty Cup clash ended with John the Baptist through to the knockout stage of the competition at Fethard Town Park 3G. The victory also sees them top Group 5.
The second-placed team in this group of three is fellow Limerick side, Castletroy College, with Carrick-on-Suir CBS the team to lose out.
It was incredibly hard luck on Carrick-on-Suir, there was no denying they were the dominant outfit for a lot of the game - but they required a win.
However, after a magnificent hour plus of hurling, a draw gave the Limerick side a safe passage through - a result that didn’t look likely at half-time, when they trailed 2-13 to 0-8.
Even though Carrick-on-Suir continued to apply the pressure upon the resumption, John the Baptist came with a storming finish, during which they outscored their opponents 1-8 to a point with five different scorers delivering in the final 10 minutes.
The flags were from all angles, and it was Hugh Murnane’s goal that started the ball rolling and his injury-time point was the clinching score.
There were also three rallying points in those closing stages from Charlie Cronin.
In the first half, Carrick-on-Suir stunned John the Baptist with a pair of goals within three minutes after they had begun with complete confidence.
With all six forwards and midfielder David Comerford on the scoresheet, the first major arrived when they opened up a 0-13 to 0-5 advantage.
Defender Andrew Phelan won a ball in his own half, and his delivery went all the way to goalkeeper Lorcan Costelloe, but the ball spilled in the square and Niall O’Brien was in the right place to fire to the net in the 26th minute.
The second goal came a mere three minutes later when David Comerford won possession in his midfield area. He parted to Gearóid Power, who swiftly passed to Eoin Hogan - the full-forward making no mistake from close range.
John the Baptist were out-hurled, Owen Meany and Diarmuid Hurley their main contributors. They were 11 behind at the turnaround.
When Eoin Hogan doubled the sliotar to the net in the 42nd minute for his second goal, Carrick found themselves the same 11 points adrift.
Hugh Flanagan then found his groove for John the Baptist, his goal came after he was set up by Griffin McCaffrey and it gave his side hope.
But Niall O’Brien managed to keep his cool when the chance presented itself to slot goal number four for the Tipp team.
Then, came the incredible John the Baptist fight back.
O Meany (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-2 65s), H Murnane (1-2), C Cronin (0-5), H Flanagan (1-1, 0-1 free), D Hurley (0-3), B Callinan (0-2), M Leo and J O’Neill (0-1 each).
N O’Brien (2-7, 0-7 frees), E Hogan (2-0), G Power and S Tobin (0-3 each), S Foley, D Comerford and C Phelan (0-1 each).
L Costelloe (Hospital Herbertstown); N McNamara (Pallasgreen), S Treacy (Staker Wallace), D Heavey (Garryspillane); N Connaughton (Caherline), S Casey (Bruff), F Leahy (Knockainey); O Meany (Bruff, Capt), M Leo (Knockainey); G McCaffrey (Hospital Herbertstown), H Flanagan (Garryspillane), B Callinan (Bruff); D Hurley (Hospital Herbertstown), C Cronin (Bruff), H Murnane (Caherline).
J O’Neill (Bruff) for B Callinan (54).
S Cronin (Carrick Davins); B Moriarty (Piltown), E Reid (Piltown, Capt), A Phelan (Piltown); C Shankey (Portlaw), A O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), D Barry (Carrick Swan); D Comerford (St Molleran’s), D Dunne (Carrick Swan); S Tobin (Carrick Swan), S Foley (Carrick Swan), G Power (Clonea); N O’Brien (Piltown), E Hogan (Piltown), C Phelan (St Molleran’s).
J O’Meara (Grangemockler) for B Moriarty (20), D Doyle (Windgap) for D Dunne (50), N O’Shea (Windgap) for E Hogan (61 inj).
Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe-Glengoole).
