Cronin’s charges on‘ different level’ in Harty triumph
ARDSCOIL RÍS manager Liam Cronin couldn’t speak highly enough of his players on Saturday after his side brushed aside Midleton CBS to take their fifth Harty Cup title in nine years in Mallow.
“Composure was something that we spoke about all year and you saw it there again today,” he said.
“Resilience is something that you can’t coach, you either have it or you don’t, and those guys clearly have it – they really are a super bunch of guys.
“They play hurling to a different level, well beyond their years.
“We knew Midleton were a tough side, we have played them all the way up from the Rice Cup (U-14) and today we came out on top.
“From a long way out people were saying these were the best two schools in Munster and we saw that today.”
Goals from Cathal O’Neill, Rian Considine and Diarmuid Ryan grabbed the headlines, but it was the overall display from a hugely impressive side that sealed the deal in front of 3,000 fans.
Ardscoil Rís were first to almost everything as their physical superiority and will to win just couldn’t be matched by CBS.
Brilliant work from Ryan led to full-forward Considine’s opening goal on five minutes as he smashed the ball past the helpless Alan Power in the Midleton goal.
The Limerick boys had to wait just 15 minutes for their second goal, with Cathal O’Neill finishing well after a surging run from the wing to leave his side leading by 2-7 to 0-6 at the break.
Good displays from Sean O’Leary Hayes, Aaron Walsh Barry and Liam O’Shea helped stabilise the game for Midleton as they sought a way back. However, on the scoreboard they continued to struggle as the Shannonsiders failed to leave the door open for a comeback.
The superb Liam Gosnell kept his side in touch with 1-7 and Joe Stack’s goal on 48 minutes lifted Midleton for a minute or two.
However, Limerick’s finest were not to be denied as they tagged on seven of the last 10 points as Midleton succumbed to the newly crowned Kings of Munster.