Thurles CBS edge past battling Nenagh CBS in entertaining Croke Cup U15 schools hurling final

Tipperary Post Primary School Croke Cup U15A Hurling Final

Thurles CBS 2-14

Nenagh CBS 0-13

Adam Rice produced a flawless shooting performance in Coolmore Morris Park on Thursday afternoon where he led his Thurles CBS team to victory over Nenagh CBS in the Croke Cup U15A Hurling final.

The Moycarkey Borris hurler gave a tour de force of shooting off his trusty left side, slinging over some exceptional scores during the game including a goal that was scarcely believable; firing a shot from a good 30 yards out on the angle that flew into the top corner.

Most of the early damage was done in the first quarter of the game via Rice who had 1-3 scored in that time, along with a well taken Pierce Cullen goal that gave Thurles CBS a 2-5 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes, and it looked like the game could be a one-sided affair early on.

However, Nenagh CBS dug in brilliantly and showed real determination to claw their way back into the game for the remainder of the first half; Oisin Hogan the leader for the North Tipp school as he hit five points in a row (4 frees) in the next seven minutes to dilute the damage done earlier.

Rice was being a massive thorn in the side of the Nenagh men though and his shooting was something to behold as he landed some outrageous scores in the final ten minutes of the game, and with Oisin Hogan the only threat for Nenagh, Thurles took a 2-9 to 0-8 lead in at half-time.

Nenagh needed a fast start to the second period to really put Thurles under the cosh but the exact opposite unfolded as Thurles hit the first three points of the half, two more Rice points from play along with a well taken effort from the pacey Cathal Lillis.

That was a decisive passage in terms of where the result would be come full time and despite the best efforts of Oisin Hogan - who hit two fine points from play thereafter - and Jack Kennedy whose points brought the game down to 2-12 to 0-12 with eight minutes remaining, there wasn’t the goals needed in the Nenagh attack to truly threaten a comeback.

In the end, Adam Rice hit two more frees with side of an Oisin Hogan placed balls in added time, and with Nenagh laying siege to the Thurles goalmouth, James Verling and his defence maintained their clean-sheet to see out the win for the Mid Tipperary school.

This was a fiercely fought game and there was no shortage of talented players on show. For Thurles CBS, Adam Rice was the main man but the workrate of Cathal Lillis was notable all game, while Sean Gribbon hit a mountain of ball from centre back all match long.

Oisin Hogan impressed from play and from frees for Nenagh CBS and his shooting kept his side in it for large spells, while Tadgh Teefy impressed in defence alongside wing-back Ronan Quinn who tried hard throughout.

Scorers: Thurles CBS: Adam Rice (1-11, 0-5f, 0-1 65), Pierce Cullen 1-0, Sean Sheehan, Cathal Lillis, Jack Ferncombe all 0-1 each.

Nenagh CBS: Oisin Hogan (0-12, 0-9f), Jack Kennedy 0-1.

Thurles CBS: James Verling (Durlas Óg); Jack Butler (Drom & Inch), Pauric Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore), Dylan Butler (Drom & Inch); Liam Burke (Durlas Óg), Sean Gribbon (Clonoulty Rossmore), Evinned Cummins (Moycarkey Borris); Dara Crosse (Boherlahan Dualla), Sean Sheehan (Moycarkey Borris); Cathal Lillis (Drom & Inch), Adam Rice (Moycarkey Borris), Hugh Shanahan (Drom & Inch); Pierce Cullen (Durlas Óg), MJ O’Mahoney (Moycarkey Borris), Jack Ferncombe (Clonoulty Rossmore).

Subs used: Evan O’Dwyer (Moycarkey Borris) for O’Mahoney (44); Luke Fennelly (Killenaule) for Ferncombe (44).

Nenagh CBS: Shane O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Luke Slattery (Burgess), Tadgh Teefy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Daniel Boland (Kiladangan); Joe Fahy (Templederry Kenyons), Craig McKenna (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Ronan Quinn (Nenagh Éire Óg); Cian Ryan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Sam Collins (Ballina); Oisin Hogan (Burgess), Senan O’Leary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Adam Quigley (Nenagh Éire Óg); Donagh Carmody (Kiladangan), Jack Kennedy (Moneygall), James O’Dwyer (Kiladangan).

Subs used: Fionn Shaughnessy (Silvermines) for Ryan (45); James Ryan (Silvermines) for Carmody (48).

Referee: Tom McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)