Ardscoil Ris drawn to face Templemore

ARDSCOIL Ris have been drawn to face Our Lady’s Templemore in the quarter-finals of the Dr. Harty Cup.
The North Circular Road secondary school will face the Tipperary outfit on Wednesday, January 20 as they bid to reach a third successive semi-final in the Munster senior A colleges hurling championship.
The draws for the provincial championship were made at a meeting of the Munster Colleges Council on Saturday in Mallow.
If Ardscoil overcome the challenge of Templemore they could face a repeat of last season’s semi-final against St. Caimin’s of Shannon who play Midleton CBS in their quarter-final.
Elsewhere in the last eight St. Flannan’s of Ennis play Thurles CBS and Nenagh CBS face De La Salle, Waterford.
“We are not looking beyond the Templemore game,” Ardscoil Ris manager Derek Larkin told Leader Sport.
“The semi-finals is the furthest we have ever been and we want to get back there for the third year in-a-row.”
Ardscoil finished top of their qualifying group with wins over Cashel CBS and St. Colman’s of Fermoy while they finished level with Midleton CBS.
“The last time we met Templemore was three years ago in the White Cup (under-15) final and they beat us, so we know what to expect,” explained the Ardscoil manager.
For the first time this season Ardscoil Ris are expecting to have a full strength panel for their quarter-final. The Na Piarsaigh pair Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes, Declan Hannon and John Fitzgibbon (Adare), Patrickwell’s Seanie O’Brien and Mark Carmody and Cratloe’s Cathal McInerney provide the backbone to the Ardscoil Ris challenge.
“We have huge experience - a real good balance to our side. But then again all that won’t count for much, it will all be on the day of the game,” said Larkin.
The Ardscoil management is completed by coaches Niall Moran and Liam Cronin along with selectors Natal O’Grady and Jimmy Browne.
While Ardscoil Ris are happy to report an injury-free panel their preparations have been greatly hindered by the current weather.
“All our training has been hampered with pitches not available, but everyone is in the same position. Other the years teams would enter the quarter-finals with three or four challenge games played, but this year it will be different,” said Larkin.
Elsewhere Limerick GAA is mourning the loss of former inter-county dual player, Danny Fitzgerald. The popular Claughaun man won National Hurling League medals from centre-forward with the Limerick in 1984 and 1985. In 1991 Fitzgerald scored four points from play in the Munster senior football final when Limerick nearly shocked Kerry. He received a football All-Star nominee at the end of that season.
Fitzgerald also played Railway Cup hurling and football for Munster - winning a hurling title in 1984.

JEROME O’CONNELL