We needed the calculators at the ready for this one.

At the end of a fascinating TUS Dr Harty Cup tie at Fethard Town Park 3G on Wednesday, defending TUS Dr Harty Cup champions Cashel CS got their campaign back on track with three points to spare over Our Lady’s Templemore, and more importantly they finished top of their group to progress to the knockouts.

Margins were tight before any ball was struck in this Group 6.

The three-point losing margin was also enough for Our Lady’s Templemore to advance from this group of three, meaning Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh were unsuccessful.

Both teams ended with the same scoring difference, so it came down to Our Lady’s having scored more in their two games.

While Cashel CS held on, this contest ended in a welter of excitement.

Four clear goals separated the teams with 20 minutes remaining and Cashel CS looked to be coasting and deservingly so, as they had done most of the heavy-lifting, but Our Lady’s Templemore provided so much drama thereafter.

In significant fashion, and aided by an overall total of 1-13 from sharp-shooter and skipper Jamie Ormond, they clawed the deficit back.

When Ciarán O’Shea found the back of the net, suddenly they were in contention, 1-17 to 4-14, and the fourth quarter to play.

White flags were swapped, the gap even stretched to seven on 60 minutes.

Who else, but Ormond nabbed a goal from a 20m free when Shay Gleeson was fouled.

Who else, but Ormond landed an artful point, and out of contention went the Cork school in stoppage. Understandably, it felt like a victory for Templemore.

Cashel provided the early entertainment. They started like a train, with all four goals bagged in the opening half, after which they were 4-10 to 0-10 to the good.

Joint-captain Oisin O’Donoghue struck first with his bullet to the top corner, 1-4 to 0-1 on six minutes.

One hundred and twenty seconds later, and dramatically after joint-captain Shane Buckley recovered brilliantly to deliver a mishit free, his shot found Briain O’Donoghue for goal number two.

Briain O’Donoghue again in the 17th minute, the ball carried by Pádraig Dalton, put them 3-8 to 0-6 up.

Five minutes from the break, Séamus Kennedy had the final touch for their fourth green flag.

Our Lady’s Templemore, meanwhile, left with so much to do.

They set about their work immediately after the restart, when Joey Quinn popped two quick points, and there was one from Ormond.

It became a titanic tussle after that. Both sets of supporters went home happy.

Scorers for Cashel CS: O O’Donoghue (1-7, 0-3 frees), B O’Donoghue (2-1), S Buckley (0-6, 0-2 frees), S Kennedy (1-0), C Ryan (0-2), A Daly and P Colville (0-1 each).

Scorers for Our Lady’s Templemore: J Ormond (1-13, 1-9 frees), C O’Shea (1-1), J Quinn (0-3), P O’Dwyer (0-2), E Boyle and J Marnell (0-1 each).

CASHEL CS: T Breen (Boherlahan-Dualla); J Dalton (Golden Kilfeacle), B Manton (Cashel King Cormacs), N O’Flynn (Fethard); G Dalton (Golden Kilfeacle), D Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla), C Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla); S Buckley (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, J-Capt), P Colville (Rosegreen); S Cooney (Clerihan), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs J-Capt), P Dalton (Golden Kilfeacle); B O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams), S Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore).

Subs: B Kirby (Boherlahan-Dualla) for S Kennedy, C Burke (Rosegreen) for P Dalton (both 47), S Hall (Golden-Kilfeacle) for N O’Flynn (49), C Walsh (Fethard) for S Kennedy, R O’Mahony (Fethard) for S Cooney (both 57).

OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE: M Ryan (Loughmore Castleiney); T Burke (JK Brackens), E Kennedy (Drom-Inch), P O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane); TJ Kinnane (Drom-Inch), T Corcoran (JK Brackens), S Gleeson (Clonakenny Moneygall); C Cahill (Drom-Inch), M Cahill (JK Brackens); J Marnell (JK Brackens), C O’Shea (JK Brackens), S Stapleton (Clonakenny Moneygall); J Quinn (Loughmore Castleiney), J Ormond (JK Brackens, Capt), E Boyle (Borrisoleigh).

Subs: K Martin (JK Brackens) for S Stapleton (41).

Referee: Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe-Glengoole).