Clare giant makes Harty exit

Our Lady's College, Templemore had a sensational 1-10 to 0-10 victory over St Flannan's, Ennis in yesterday's Dr Harty Cup, Munster…

Our Lady's College, Templemore had a sensational 1-10 to 0-10 victory over St Flannan's, Ennis in yesterday's Dr Harty Cup, Munster senior hurling quarter-final at McDonagh Park, Nenagh.

The sides traded points in the opening minutes, but St Flannan's goalkeeper David Woods allowed a long-range Pat Shortt free to slip through his hands in the 26th minute. St Flannan's rallied with points from Ger Griffin and Killian Neylon and led 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval. But they were reduced to 14 men in the 40th minute when Marcus Ryan was sent off for a second yellow card.

Deep into injury time St Flannan's had a chance to level the game but Ger Griffin blazed the penalty high over the bar.

Cashel CS had a 25-point win over Waterford Colleges at Clonmel. The Tipperary school ran up a 7-11 total against a meagre 1-4 for Waterford, debutants in this combination.

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Corner forward Paul O'Dwyer scored 4-2 from play, and the Tipperary college led 3-6 to 0-3 at the break. The Cashel goal blitz continued with substitute Michael Heelan and O'Dwyer each hitting the Waterford net twice.

Reigning champions St Coleman's beat Colβiste Phiarsaigh at Watergrass Hill by 2-12 to 1-6. Phiarsaigh threw down the gauntlet to the champions in the second half when Ruair∅ O'Brien blasted home a goal from a 20-metre free, but sensing the danger, Coleman's introduced their three injured players, Maurice O'Brien, Patrick Kirby and Aidan Kearney.

Two goals in a minute by Andrew O'Shaughnessy had them back on course.

Midleton CBS beat Thurles CBS 0-10 to 1-6, thanks mainly to the accuracy of Cork minor hurler Brian Smiddy.

The first round of the Leinster senior hurling A league, which determines the quarter-final draw for the championship, ended with wins for St Peter's College, Cistercian, Roscrea and Good Counsel College.

Stephen Banville's goal four minutes from time helped St Peter's to shock the holders, Dublin Colleges, 2-8 to 2-5 at Power Park, Wexford. The Wexford side were superior throughout but the Dublin students took the lead for the first time in the 54th minute - going up 2-5 to 1-7 - with substitute Graham Morris crashing home a goal.

With a well-executed goal from corner-forward Kevin Dunne in the opening minute, and Darren Foran picking off some excellent points, the home side had been 1-4 to 1-0 ahead at the break.

Good Counsel beat St Brendan's CS, Birr easily, 0-19 to 0-6 at New Ross, while there was a close 2-8 to 1-10 win for Cistercian, Roscrea over Kilkenny CBS. A late point by Roscrea's Ivan McCarthy clinched victory.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics