Dungarvan CBS start with a win

Dungarvan CBS return to the Dr Harty Cup for the first time since the 1950’s ended in a victory (1-16 to 0-14) over Blackwater Community School when the two schools clashed at Fraher Field last Wednesday.

The feeling before the game was that it was going to be a close game, with both sides able to call on several members of the victorious All-Ireland winning team and the extended panel. The fact that the two sides were level on nine occasions over the hour showed exactly how close the game was.

While every player on the day gave it their all, it was the contribution of Cormac Curran who finished the game with six points behind his name that ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.

In addition to the Brickey man, Dungarvan CBS in their starting line out included Kevin Daly and Patrick Curran from the team that started the All-Ireland final with Galway in their team while Blackwater Community School had Colm Roche, Cian Leamy, Shane Bennett and top scorer on the day Mikey Kearney in their starting fifteen.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Dungarvan CBS opened the scoring through Ballinameela Club man Michael Shine with just thirty seconds gone.

A brace of Mikey Kearney points had the Lismore based School in front by one on six minutes, but it could be argued that they could well have been even further in front at this stage as Shane Bennett had an attempt from a free following a foul on Andrew Casey blocked by the defensive Dungarvan wall.

The only goal of the game came on nine minutes which helped Dungarvan CBS regain the lead. Conor Morrissey was the scorer after he cleverly batted a Patrick Curran cross past John McGrath.

Blackwater Community School hit three points in a five minute spell courtesy of Mikey Kearney, Eoghan Murray and Cian Leamy with Cormac O’Grady responding for the Old Boro based side.

Cormac Curran pointed at the end of the first quarter to give Dungarvan CBS the lead once more but an Andy Molumpy point on seventeen minutes ensured that the sides were all square once more with seventeen minutes played.

Patrick Curran and Mikey Kearney both from frees traded scores to level matters again but Patrick Curran restored the lead for the winners sending over another point, which was followed with a well worked score as Cormac Curran and Conor Morrissey linked up before Carthach Barry pointed to give his side a 1-6 to 0-7 lead with twenty eight minutes played but a Shane Bennett effort just before the half time whistle meant that just one separated the sides at the turn around.

Within a minute of the restart, the sides were level once more as Mikey Kearney again found the range but Dungarvan CBS were soon back in front as Cormac Curran scored a delightful point which was followed by another Patrick Curran score which gave his side a 1-8 to 0-9 lead with six minutes of the second half played.

Three Mikey Kearney points in a row inside five minutes of each other gave the Lismore based side a 0-12 to 1-8 lead with the third quarter drawing to its conclusion, but the lead could have been even greater had not Shaun Murray did well to keep the Lismore men at bay.

With the game having entered its final quarter, Cormac O’Grady again drew the sides level their first score in ten minutes.

Both sides continued to go at each other at every opportunity. The Lismore men missed three good chances for scores while Patrick Curran made no mistake when he was given a chance after he received a good pass from Aaron Donnelly.

Jack Prendergast pointed for the Lismore men with nine minutes to play to level matters ninth time.

However, from here on in it was the Dungarvan men that proved to be the stronger of the two sides, as the Lismore side hit just one further score in the time that remained.

Cormac Curran edged Dungarvan CBS back in front with seven minutes of the hour to play and two minutes later, Carthach Barry put two between the sides.

With two minutes to go, Michael Shine but three between the sides, a dangerous lead for any team to be defending in the closing minutes of any game, but Cormac Curran managed to put some further day light between the sides on the hour mark.

Colm Roche in the closing minutes attempted to draw the sides level in added time shooting for a goal but his effort was tipped over by Shaun Murray which left three between the sides once more, but before referee Willie Barrett blew his full time whistle, man of the match Cormac Curran put over two long range frees to give his side what was a deserved five point win.

Dungarvan CBS: Shaun Murray; Michael Cronin, Kevin Daly, Cian Culloo; Billy Egan, Darragh Lyons, Jack O Donnell; Cormac Curran, Shane Nugent; Carthach Barry, Aaron Donnelly, Micheal Shine; Conor Morrissey, Patrick Curran, Cormac O Grady.

Scorers: Cormac Curran 0-6 (2 frees), Patrick Curran 0-4 (2 frees), Conor Morrissey 1-0, Carthach Barry, Michael Shine, Cormac O’Grady 0-2 each.

Blackwater Community School: John McGrath; Jordan Henley, Colm Roche, David Prendergast; Cian Leamy, Shane O Brien, Eoghan Murray; Shane Murray, Andy Molumpy; Shane Bennett, Aaron O Sullivan, Ronan Landers; Andrew Casey, Mikey Kearney, Jack Prendergast.

Scorers: Mikey Kearney 0-7 (4 frees), Shane Bennett 0-2, Colm Roche, Cian Leamy, Eoghan Murray, Andy Molumpy, Jack Prendergast 0-1 each.

Referee: Willie Barrett (Tipperary).