Cistercian College, Roscrea 0-15 Nenagh CBS 1-11
By Brendan Larkin
AN exhibition of point-scoring by full-forward Peter O'Brien helped Cistercian College, Roscrea to a thrilling victory over Nenagh CBS in the All-Ireland SBHC semi-final yesterday.
O'Brien, from Kildorrery, Co Cork hit ten points as Roscrea, better known for rugby prowess, reached their first national final in five years.
Fielding a team that included players from Clare, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Offaly, Laois and Tipperary, they produced a marvellous display that if repeated, would be more than good enough to win the All-Ireland in a couple of weeks time.
Alan McIntyre, Carl Fulham, Eamon Lee, Barry Connolly and Peter O'Brien would hold their own in the best of company.
Nenagh battled superbly for the spoils and had excellent players in Martin Walsh, Timmy Gleeson, James Keogh and Eoin Ryan but didn't have the finish.
Despite playing against the strong wind, Nenagh got off to a great start with an Eoin Ryan point after 30 seconds and while Roscrea were quickly level through Eamon Lee, the Nenagh forwards were very sharp and points by Dunne and McGrath had them 0-3 to 0-1 in front after ten minutes.
Given the strength of the wind, Roscrea needed a sizeable half-time lead if they were to have any chance. They benefited enormously from a firm grip at midfield by Eamon Lee and with Barry Connolly, son of former Galway stalwart Joe, leading their attack in style, Roscrea opened up a 0-7 to 0-4 lead after 20 minutes.
Nenagh were struggling to contain the lively Roscrea forwards but in a breakaway attack Eoin Ryan blasted home a goal which levelled the game for a third time.
However, Roscrea were back on the attack from the puck-out and with O'Brien unerring from frees they led 0-11 to 0-5 at half time.
Nenagh made some switches for the second half, with Brian McLaughlin keeping a tighter rein on Barry Connolly.
Despite playing against the wind Roscrea continued to dictate the trend particularly in defence where wing-back Carl Fulham was outstanding as was goalkeeper Cathal Nash, who made a number of vital saves.
By the end of the third quarter Nenagh had reduced the deficit to the minimum with a succession of points by James Keogh and it was anyone's game as play swung from end to end. Nenagh's concession of some silly frees however proved extremely costly as O'Brien pointed two in a row to leave a goal between them and time kicking away.
To their credit Nenagh pounded the Roscrea defence in search of that crucial goal but the best they could manage were two late points as Cistercian College held on for a thrilling victory.
Scorers: Cistercian College: P. O'Brien 0-10 (frees), E. Lee 0-3, B Connolly 0-2. Nenagh CBS: J. Keogh 0-6 (0-4 frees), E. Ryan 1-1, T. Dunne 0-2, D. McGrath and N. Quigley 0-1 each.
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE: C. Nash, N. McCarthy, M. Leahy, T. Garvey, T. Breen, A. McIntyre, C. Fulham, E. Lee, J. O'Loughlin, C. O'Dwyer, B. Connolly, E. Coogan, R. Campion, P. O'Brien, M. Starr. Sub: G. Delahunty for Coogan.
NENAGH CBS: S. Flynn, M. Leamy, M. Walsh, T. Gleeson, R. Sherlock, J. Ryan, T. O'Meara, S. Ryan, T. Stapleton, P. Troy, N. Quigley, J. Keogh, T. Dunne, D. McGrath, E. Ryan. Sub. B. McLoughlin for J. Ryan.
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