St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh launch Hurling Development Committee

Fundraiser organised to ensure recent successes are sustained

From this time last year, St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh has sent a strong message to everyone that they are a force to be reckoned with in schools hurling.

The past twelve months has brought three notable successes to the school. Their 1st Year hurlers won the Tipperary ‘A’ competition in the autumn and then went on to contest the Rice Cup Under 14 ‘A’ Final, losing narrowly to Ardscoil Rís from Limerick in May.

Then the Dean Ryan Munster Under 17 ‘A’ hurling competition was won, beating St Flannan’s College from Ennis in the final in November. Few could have imagined that the season still had much more to offer.

The biggest success and the most significant of the season came when Nenagh CBS brought home the Dr. Harty Cup for the first time in the school’s history, beating Ardscoil Rís in Cusack Park in Ennis last February.

It is a remarkable achievement to win both the U17 & U19 ‘A’ competitions in the one season and this further demonstrates the strength and depth of the hurling talent in the school.

Success on this scale does not come about without the hard work and unwavering commitment of the coaches and management of the school, who work tirelessly in the promotion and coaching of GAA.

The expertise of the coaching staff, who give their time in a volunteer capacity, is laying a strong foundation on which success in built - as the past year has shown. This, coupled with the school’s strong academic record, provides the balance needed to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

At present the school is fielding three first year hurling teams with over sixty boys having played in competitions so far this year. At Under 15 level, the school will field two teams in competition and again just short of fifty boys in 2nd & 3rd year will contest this age grade.

The defence of the Dean Ryan Cup has commenced with an exciting quarter-final victory recently against Ardscoil Rís and the Dr Harty Cup campaign began with an exciting draw in their first match against Midleton CBS last month.

This level of participation means that the demand for facilities to support GAA in the school is growing. The school has limited changing room space for the numerous teams and there is also an increasing need for a school-based facility for strength & conditioning and the athletic development of school players.

In light of this, a new committee has been formed with each GAA club in the catchment area being represented. The purpose of this committee is supporting the promotion of hurling in Nenagh CBS and is chaired by North Board Chairperson Brendan Shanahan and Paudie Malone (Tipperary GDC) is serving as secretary.

The committee have decided to launch a fundraiser in the form of selling advertising hoarding, which will be displayed along the school’s GAA field at the Dublin Road entrance. Funds raised will be used to support the school with further investment in the development of onsite training facilities.

The CBS campus now has a population of over 1000 people – comprising of the students and staff of both the primary and secondary schools. The initiative will give businesses in the locality an opportunity to avail of advertising space in the school.

If you are interested in advertising your business, email the committee friendsofnenaghcbs@outlook.ie and they will get back to you with information around the fundraiser and how you can get an advertisement space on the GAA pitch fence.

The school would also like to thank Eoin Kennedy and Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club, who through their own fundraising project earlier in the year, made a donation to the school’s hurling fund.