The penultimate stage of the Dr. Harty Cup group rounds took place on Wednesday November 19th with 7 games down for decision.

Four of the eight Quarter-Final places were claimed on Wednesday during an exciting round in the Dr. Harty Cup Senior A Hurling competition with Thurles CBS, PS Youghal, Rochestown College and Hamilton High School Bandon qualifying with Round 4 victories.

Ard Scoil Ris 1-21 West Limerick Colleges 0-11
Starting with the action in Group 1 and a large crowd turned out in sun drenched Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock as Ard Scoil Ris and West Limerick Colleges squared off in a crucial game. Holders Ard Scoil Ris lost to Thurles in the last round and nothing less than a victory here would suffice. The gravity of their situation was evident in their pre-match preparations and from the throw-in, Ard Scoil Ris were dominant in all sectors, running out to an eight point lead after 12 minutes thanks to the accuracy of Peter Casey from play and captain Ronan Lynch from placed balls. West Limerick Colleges eventually got off the mark with a point followed quickly by three others to reduce the deficit to 0-8 to 0-4 after 20 minutes. However, Ard Scoil Ris took control of the game again in the closing stages of the first half, scoring six unanswered points and at half-time, the margin was 10 points - 0-14 to 0-4.

West Limerick Colleges needed both a good start in the second half and ideally a goal to get back in to contention. While their play did improve, the goal did not look like coming and by the end of the third quarter, the deficit was still at eight points, 0-17 to 0-9. Whatever chance the amalgamation had ebbed away with 10 minutes remaining when man of the match Peter Casey scored the only goal of the game. Casey helped himself to 1-10 with an impressive 1-8 from play. Ronan Lynch added 0-5 from play. The Ard Scoil Ris defence marshalled by centre-back Thomas Grimes held the starting forwards from West Limerick Colleges to just two points from play which illustrates the team effort involved in ensuring this comprehensive 1-21 to 0-11 victory. Ard Scoil Ris now require a victory over winless St. Flannans Ennis in their last game to qualify for the knockout stages.

Thurles CBS 2-15 Blackwater CS 3-3
In the other group 1 encounter played at Clonmel Sportsfield, table-toppers Thurles CBS had to come from behind to earn a flattering 9 point victory over Blackwater CS. Blackwater opened strongly with 1-1 within the opening stages followed by a second goal on 19 minutes to race in to a 2-2 to 0-5 interval lead. Within moments of the resumption, Thurles CBS levelled proceedings with a goal and followed this up with another green flag three minutes later to take the lead. Though Blackwater would reduce the deficit to a single point with their third goal in the 41st minute, it would prove to be their last score as Thurles finished the game with eight unanswered points to run out winners and qualify for the Quarter-Final as Group 1 winners.

St Colmans 5-11 DLS Waterford 0-6
In the only game played in Group 2, St. Colmans Fermoy kept their ambitions for a knockout place alive and well with a comprehensive 20 point victory over a De La Salle Waterford team who were already out of contention before play commenced. In a low scoring first half, a goal by St. Colmans was enough to see them reach the interval with a 1-4 to 0-2 lead. The second half was a different story as the Fermoy school added another four goals to run out comprehensive winners. The other Group 2 Round 4 game between Castletroy College and SNTN Doon will take place on Tuesday next November 25th at 1:30pm in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick. A victory for Doon in this game would leave four schools all on four points with one round of games remaining.

Rochestown 0-16 St Caimins Shannon 0-13
In Group 3, undefeated Rochestown were made to battle all the way for victory against St. Caimins Shannon. Indeed it was the Clare school who led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time. Rochestown's play improved after the interval, outscoring their opponents by 0-11 to 0-6 to earn a three point victory and a place in the Quarter-Finals with a game to spare.

PS Youghal 0-18 Charleville CBS 2-11
Pobalscoil na Tríonóide Youghal were made to fight all the way by Charleville CBS in Fermoy. Charleville led by 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval. However, the Youghal side outscored their opponents by 0-10 to 0-2 in the second half until Charleville got in for their second goal with 2 minutes remaining to leave just a solitary point between the sides. However, Youghal held out to secure a Quarter-Final place courtesy of a one point victory.

Hamilton High School Bandon 2-16 Midleton CBS 0-21
The game of the day was played in Blackrock as Hamilton High School Bandon and Midleton CBS put their unbeaten records on the line. Midleton were the dominant team in the first half and led by 0-15 to 1-5 at the interval. Hamilton's play improved after the break, scoring 8 of the next 11 points to leave just two points between the schools when Midleton were reduced to 14 players. Despite this setback, Midleton defended valiantly and as the game entered added time, they led by three points.

However, in a dramatic finish Joe O'Mahony scored a goal for Hamilton HS to level the scores before a Luke Murray point helped the Bandon school to a come from behind one point victory and earn a place in the knockout stages.

Nenagh CBS 1-17 HS Clonmel 0-16
This all Tipperary clash took place in Templemore. After a closely contested first half, Nenagh CBS led by 0-10 to 0-8. The scores remained close all through the second half until a late Michael Brislane goal helped Nenagh to a hard earned four point victory. Keith Nealon scored 9 points from frees for Nenagh who can now look forward to a winner takes all meeting with Midleton CBS in the last round to decide on the second Quarter-Final place from Group 4.

Results - Wednesday 19th November
Ard Scoil Ris 1-21 West Lim College 0-11
Thurles CBS 2-15 Blackwater CS 3-03
St Colmans 5-11 DLS Waterford 0-06
Rochestown 0-16 St Caimins Shannon 0-13
PS Youghal 0-18 Charleville CBS 2-11
Ham HS Bandon 2-16 Midleton CBS 0-21
Nenagh CBS 1-17 HS Clonmel 0-16

Please note that the Harty cup game between Castletroy & SNTN Doon is fixed for 25/11/14 @ 1:30pm in Gaelic Grounds.

Courtesy of Munster GAA

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