HARTY CUP FINAL/Ardscoil Rís 2-21 Thurles CBS 4-15 AET – 1-16 to 3-10 after normal time:HARTY CUP finalists Thurles CBS and Ardscoil Rís will have to do it all again on Wednesday at the same venue (throw-in 2.30pm) following another thrilling stalemate in Nenagh on Saturday.
Eighty minutes failed to separate the two teams who played out an epic replay in front of 2,090 spectators at McDonagh Park.
All supporters present afforded both teams a standing ovation as they left the pitch and the scene is set for more of the same when they lock horns for a third time on Wednesday.
Despite such a hectic fixtures schedule, Munster Colleges officials insist a winner must be found before the weekend as Leinster runners-up Kilkenny CBS await the Harty losers in the All-Ireland quarter-final next Saturday.
The teams were level on 11 occasions on Saturday before referee David Copps called time on a match for the ages.
But the pendulum now appears to have swung in favour of Thurles as they will have influential centre forward Aidan McCormack available after suspension, while Ardscoil Rís wing back Cathal McInerney will be unavailable.
McInerney received a straight red card for an off-the-ball swipe at Thurles star Michael O’Brien six minutes after half-time.
Despite that blow, Ardscoil Rís remained in contention and John Fitzgibbon was the hero again in normal time, as he was in the first match, with a glorious equaliser.
Both teams netted goals in the first period of extra time before Ardscoil Rís, returned to a full complement of 15 players, moved three points clear.
Enter talisman O’Brien with a run of four unanswered Thurles scores to push them a point clear with just minutes of the second period of extra-time remaining.
But once again, these sides would not be separated and Declan Hannon, fired over a sensational equaliser to ensure a third day out.
ARDSCOIL RÍS: PJ Hall; M Carmody, E McCarthy, A Dempsey; C McInerney (1-0), S Dowling (0-2), M Moroney; S O’Brien, N Kennedy (0-2); M Ryan (0-1), D Hannon (1-5, 0-4f), B O’Connor; J Fitzgibbon (0-8, six frees), K Downes (0-1), A Breen. Subs: J Shanahan (0-2) for Ryan (39 mins), C Keogh for Breen (55), K Keane for O’Connor (56), A Breen back for extra time, M Ryan for Keane (75).
THURLES CBS: A Stakelum; P Dunne, C Carroll, J Bourke; P Looby, J Meagher, C Barrett; S Maher, P Ralph (1-2, 1-0f); B Campion, J Bergin, T Doyle (0-3); M O’Brien (0-10, seven frees), D Maher (2-0, 1-0 pen), C Hammersley. Subs: K Slattery (1-0) for Campion (27), C Treacy for Hammersley (51), N O’Brien for Bergin (58), Hammersley for Treacy (71).
Referee: D Copps (Cork).
