Thurles CBS (Tipperary) 2-12 St Francis College, Rochestown (Cork) 1-12
Billy McCarthy inspired Thurles CBS to Harty Cup glory in Mallow on Saturday afternoon.
The Thurles Sarsfields midfielder scored a first half goal and two crucial late points as the Tipperary outfit claimed the coveted silverware for an eighth time.
But Thurles had to work desperately hard for victory against a St Francis Rochestown team appearing in the prestigious decider for a very first time.
Before throw-in, Rochestown were dreaming of dual glory as they are also Corn Uí Mhuirí finalists.
And with eleven minutes of normal time remaining, Rochestown had turned a four-point half-time deficit into a one-point lead.
But two points from McCarthy handed Thurles the whip hand again and further scores from Kevin Duggan and Michael Connors ensured that the winners finished with four unanswered points.
Duggan and McCarthy were the first half scorers for Thurles, who lost free-taker Niall Heffernan to a second yellow card offence at the death.
Duggan netted in the 16th minute and McCarthy on the stroke of half-time to help open up a 2-7 to 1-6 interval lead for Thurles.
Rochestown’s leading scorer Ciaran Cormack had scorched through for a sensational solo goal in the tenth minute and that was a tonic for the Harty final debutants.
But Thurles have real tradition in this competition and in front of 1,931 spectators, they did enough to bridge a six-year gap back to their previous Harty Cup success in 2009.
Rochestown will now turn their attention back to the big ball and aim to put today’s heartbreak behind them.
Thurles CBS: W Tierney; D Quirke, E Heffernan, J Derby; T Hayes, J Skehan, C McCullagh; B McCarthy (1-2), C Moloney; N Heffernan (0-4f), K Duggan (1-1), P Kennedy (0-1); J Butler, R Teehan (0-1), R Long (0-2).
Subs: M Connors (0-1) for Butler (54), R Purcell for Moloney (56)
Rochestown: A Cullinane; D Murphy, J Cashman, N Walsh; D Kelliher, D Griffin, C Sheehan; E O’Brien, J O’Sullivan; C Cormack (1-6, 0-5f), D O’Mahony, S Kington (0-4); D Meaney (0-1), S Powter (0-1), L O’Sullivan.
Subs: K O’Donovan for Sheehan (30), M McAuliffe for L O’Sullivan (33), J Holland for O’Mahony (37), L Dineen for O’Brien (60).
Referee: Damien Fox (Clare)
Dr. Harty Cup Roll Of Honour
St. Flannan’s, Ennis (21) – 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005
North Monastery, Cork (19) – 1919, 1929, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1994
Limerick CBS (10) – 1920, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1932, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1993
St Colman’s College, Fermoy (9) – 1948, 1949, 1977, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003
Thurles CBS (8) – 1933, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1956, 2009, 2015
St. Finbarr’s, Cork (7) – 1963, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1984
Rockwell College (5) – 1918, 1923, 1924, 1930, 1931
Ardscoil Rís, Limerick (3) – 2010, 2011, 2014
Midleton CBS (3) – 1988, 1995, 2006
De La Salle College Waterford (2) – 2007, 2008
Colaiste na nDeise / Dungarvan Colleges (2) – 2012, 2013
St. Munchin’s (1) – 1922
Mount Sion (1) – 1953
Abbey CBS, Tipperary Town (1) – 1959
Rice College, Ennis (1) – 1962
Coláiste Chríost Rí (1) – 1968
Colaiste Iognaid Ris, Cork (1) – 1975
Templemore CBS (1) – 1978
