Our Lady’s, Templemore (Tipperary) 0-24
Kilkenny CBS 2-15

Jackie Cahill reports from O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

FRESH FROM WINNING the Harty Cup for the first time in 39 years, Our Lady’s, Templemore, have booked their place in the Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools All-Ireland senior A hurling decider.

Brian McGrath produced some big moments, particularly in the second half, as Templemore advanced to face holders and four-in-a-row chasers St Kieran’s from Kilkenny on Saturday week, 25 March.

Our Lady’s saw off Kilkenny CBS in today’s semi-final at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise and while they led by seven points approaching half-time – 0-14 to 0-17 – the winners were made to work for it.

Andrew Ormonde hit five points from play in the first half alone for Templemore but they the concession of goals in stoppage time at the end of both halves made life nervy for them.

Templemore also needed a couple of huge blocks from full-back Pádraig Campion down the home straight but at the other end, Kilkenny CBS had goalkeeper Ben Maher making some big saves.

At half-time, Templemore were 0-14 to 1-8 clear but they were hit with a sucker-punch goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

Templemore failed to deal with Niall Brassil’s free into their full-back line and Joe Sheehan was alive to the loose ball, sending a deflected ground-stroke to the net.

That goal undid some of Templemore’s good work in the opening half because when they got on a run, they looked really good, with their three inside forwards – Ormonde, David O’Shea and Lyndon Fairbrother – collecting eight points from play between them before the interval.

Andrew Ormonde (pictured in action in the Dr Harty Cup final today) scored 0-5 for Our Lady’s Templemore.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Templemore opened with the first three points of the game but Kilkenny CBS, playing with the breeze in the opening half, settled and were level at 0-4 each by the 13th minute.

The sides were deadlocked twice more but Templemore, who didn’t register a wide in the first half, were finding a steady groove and a devastating scoring run gave them clear daylight.

Having fallen 0-5 to 0-6 behind, Templemore unloaded with seven unanswered points in a nine-minute spell.

They could have a goal, too, but CBS goalkeeper Ben Maher did well with a double-save to keep out first Ormonde and then Brian McGrath.

Sheehan’s 25th minute point was the first time Kilkenny CBS had scored in ten minutes but Templemore responded with further efforts from Lyndon Fairbrother and David O’Shea.

Niall Brassil clipped over his third free of the half before his delivery led to Sheehan’s goal.

The second half ebbed and flowed but the closest that Kilkenny CBS could get was two points.

Goalkeeper Maher blasted home a 20m free in stoppage time to narrow the gap to 2-15 to 0-23.

But McGrath, 2016 All-Ireland winning captain for Tipperary, landed an absolute peach from the right touchline to settle frayed Templemore nerves.

Templemore now have the chance to emulate their 1978 feats – when they added the Croke Cup to their earlier Harty Cup success.

Scorers for Our Lady’s, Templemore: Brian McGrath 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 ’65) Andrew Ormonde 0-5, David O’Shea 0-3, Jerry Kelly & Lyndon Fairbrother (1f) 0-2 each, Éanna McBride, Jack Ryan & Ray McCormack 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilkenny CBS: Niall Brassil 0-9 (7f, 1 65), Joe Sheehan 1-3, Ben Maher 1-0f, Sean Boyd 0-2, Sean Bolger 0-1.

Our Lady’s, Templemore

1. Eoin Collins (Drom & Inch)

20. Neil Quinlan (JK Brackens)
3. Padraig Campion (Drom & Inch)
4. Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney)

5. Éanna McBride (JK Brackens)
6. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
7. Aidan O’Meara (Drom & Inch)

8. Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny)
9. Jack Ryan (Toomevara)

12. Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh)
11. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
10. Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)

13. Andrew Ormonde (JK Brackens)
14. David O’Shea (JK Brackens)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens)

Subs

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19. Shane Doyle (JK Brackens) for D Ryan (59)
17. Fintan Purcell (Drom & Inch) for J Ryan (59)
18. Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Ormonde (60+3)

Kilkenny CBS

1. Ben Maher (O’Loughlin Gaels)

5. Mickey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels)
3. Johnny Minogue (Dicksboro)
6. Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels)

9. Peter Collins (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4. Conor Flynn (Graigue-Ballycallan)
2. Liam Stynes (Dicksboro)

12. Conor Heary (O’Loughlin Gaels)
10. Niall Brassil (James Stephens)

7. Ronan Buckley (O’Loughlin Gaels)
14. Sean Boyd (Dicksboro)
13. Sean Bolger (O’Loughlin Gaels)

15. Shane Staunton (Clara)
8. Des Dunne (Danesfort)
21. Joe Sheehan (Dicksboro)

Subs

19. Conor Drennan (Galmoy) for Staunton (45)
17. Mick Doyle (Barrow Rangers) for Dunne (53)

Referee: John Keane (Galway)

Source: The42 GAA/SoundCloud

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