Our Lady's captain Paddy Cadell in action against Kilkenny CBS

Templemore made to battle for final berth

GAA: Masita All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior 'A' Hurling Semi-Final

 

Our Lady’s SS Templemore 0-24

Kilkenny CBS 2-15

 

Three points might have been the final margin but Our Lady's Templemore were fully deserving winners in yesterdays All Ireland Senior 'A' Hurling semi-final.

The concession of sloppy goals in injury time at the end of both halves ensured a battling Kilkenny CBS side kept Templemore honest but the Munster champions always had that extra quality to put themselves within sixty minutes of a second All Ireland title.

Playing against the breeze in the opening half, Templemore were almost foot perfect, scoring fourteen points from fourteen shots at the target. It was terrific efficiency from their forwards who looked threatening every time they got on the ball. Andrew Ormond led the way with five points from play, all inside the first 23 minutes.

David O'Shea (2) and Lyndon Fairbrother were also on the scoresheet, making it an eight point haul from the full forward line while Jerry Kelly, Eanna McBride and Jack Ryan also scored from play while Brian McGrath converted three placed balls.

The opening quarter was tight enough with the sides level on three occasions before Templemore went on a seven point scoring run to put themselves in control but after failing to clear their lines, Joe Sheehan scrambled the ball to the net from close range to reduce Templemore's advantage to 0-14 to 1-8 at half time.

The third quarter proved to be very competitive as with the elements behind them, Templemore weren't able to pull away with Kilkenny CBS upping their workrate and intensity. The scores from play began to dry up as after Jerry Kelly pointed, the next three points came from frees by Fairbrother and Brian McGrath, the latter who had a massive second half.

Kilkenny CBS goalkeeper Ben Maher pulled off two fine saves from Andrew Ormond and David O'Shea and with Niall Brassil in superb form from frees, Kilkenny CBS cut the margin to two points going into the final quarter.

Following an incident in which Jerry Ryan was injured, it gave Templemore a chance to settle themselves and they took it with David O'Shea and Brian McGrath (2) reasserting their control.

Kilkenny almost got in for a goal in the 55th minute but the outstanding Padraig Campion made a superb block to deny Conor Heary from close range.

Templemore eased out to a five point lead once again going into injury time when they conceded a second goal, with goalkeeper Ben Maher coming forward to blast a 21 yard free to the net.

In a frantic conclusion, Brian McGrath put his hand up to look for the next puckout and managed to fire over from the right wing to ease the pressure a little as Our Lady's defended stoutly in the three minutes of added time to prevent Kilkenny goaling again to progress to Saturday's decider.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Padraig Campion (Our Lady's SS, Templemore)

Scorers – Our Ladys: Brian McGrath 0-9 (5 frees, 2 65s); Andrew Ormond 0-5; David O'Shea 0-3; Jerry Kelly, Lyndon Fairbrother (1 free) 0-2 each; Eanna McBride, Jack Ryan, Ray McCormack 0-1 each.

Kilkenny CBS: Niall Brassil 0-9 (6 frees, 1 65); Joe Sheehan 1-2; Ben Maher 1-0 free; Sean Boyd 0-2; Conor Heary 0-1.

 

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore: Eoin Collins (Drom & Inch 7); Neil Quinlan (JK Brackens 7), Padraig Campion (Drom & Inch 9), Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney 7); Eanna McBride (JK Brackens 7), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens 8), Aidan O’Meara (Drom & Inch 7); Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny 7), Jack Ryan (Toomevara 7); Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 7), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 9), Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh 8); Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens 9), David O’Shea (JK Brackens 8), Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens 7).

Subs: Fintan Purcell (Drom & Inch NR) for J Ryan (58); Shane Doyle (JK Brackens NR) for D Ryan (58); Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy NR) for Ormond (60+2).

Kilkenny CBS: Ben Maher (9); Mickey Butler (6), Johnny Minogue (6), Jordan Molloy (6), Peter Collins (7), Conor Flynn (7), Liam Stynes (7); Niall Brassil (8), Conor Heary (7); Ronan Buckley (7), Sean Boyd (8), Sean Bolger (6); Shane Staunton (6), Des Dunne (6), Joe Sheehan (8).

Subs: Conor Drennan (6) for Staunton (45); Mick Doyle (6) for Dunne (53);

 

Referee: John Keane (Galway)