Nenagh and Thurles aim to reach Harty Cup semi-finals
By Shane Brophy
Nenagh CBS and Thurles CBS will aim to take another step towards back-to-back all-Tipperary Harty Cup finals when they play their respective quarter finals today (Wednesday)
Nenagh CBS v CBC Cork in Bansha @ 1.00pm
Nenagh CBS have been impressive in their campaign to date with wins over Charleville CBS and Hamilton High School Bandon and will have to take down another Cork school in Christian Brothers College (CBS) Cork in what is a repeat of the 2019 quarter final which CBC won with a last gasp goal.
Five years on, this CBC team finished runner-up in their group with a win over Doon, a defeat to Cork rivals Midleton CBS while a draw with Rice College Ennis was enough to see them progress to a preliminary quarter final on score difference. There they edged out St Colman’s College Fermoy in a low scoring affair before Christmas with full-forward and star man Dylan Wall contributing 1-6 of their total.
Nenagh CBS are still chasing a first Harty Cup success but off the back of the school winning a first Dean Ryan (Under 17 ‘A’) Cup in November, it should give the senior squad added belief. Indeed, five of that team started in Nenagh’s last Harty Cup game in Burgess’ Conor Grace, Portroe’s Liam O’Callaghan, Toomevara’s Austin Duff, Silvermines’ Brehon O’Donnell, and Eoghan Doughan from Moneygall who captained that side.
This senior team is spearheaded by skipper Darragh McCarthy who had a superb first senior club campaign with Toomevara and has been drafted into the Tipperary senior panel. However, it is far from a one man show with Aodan O’Connor from Nenagh and Burgess Michael Ryan part of a lively attack, while 2022 All-Ireland minor winner Ciaran Foley from Borrisokane will be key at midfield. They will however be without Nenagh’s Zac Keller who suffered an injury in a challenge game in recent weeks.
The winner of this game will progress to a semi-final against the winner of the all-Cork clash between Midleton CBS and Charleville CBS.
Thurles CBS v St Flannan’s College, Ennis in Meelick @ 1.00pm
It is the clash of the heavyweights as eight-time champions Thurles CBS take on 22-time winners St Flannan’s College from Ennis.
Thurles have not gotten their hands on the famous trophy since 2015 and are keen to get back to the final following last years final loss to rivals Cashel Community School, played in front of 9,000 people at FBD Semple Stadium.
The Mid Tipperary school have been dominant on route to the quarter finals with comfortable group stage wins over St Colman’s of Fermoy, St Joseph’s of Tulla, and Pobalscoil Youghal.
The Thurles team is a strong one, right from in goal with Roscrea’s Harry Loughnane who was county minor for two years. Holycross/Ballycahill’s Evan Morris is a survivor from last year at full back while Boherlahan-Dualla’s Ryne Bargary has had a strong campaign at midfield. Holycross/Ballycahill’s Robbie Ryan is the leader of the attack, but they have plenty of scoring options in David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris); Darragh Kelly (Éire Óg Annacarty), and Cillian Minogue (Durlas Óg), while they can also call on some strong under 17’s in Euan Murray (Durlas Óg) and Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris).
Their opponents St Flannan’s emerged from a tough group, losing firstly to Ardscoil Rís but recovered to beat De La Salle from Waterford and Colaiste Choilm from Ballincollig to finish runner-up in their group and produced their best performance with a convincing win over Castletroy College in the preliminary quarter final.
Their team is backboned by ten of the Clare minor panel that won the All-Ireland in 2022, including James Hegarty at centre back.
The winner will progress to a semi-final against the winner of the remaining quarter final which is an all-Limerick affair between Ardscoil Rís and St John the Baptist Community School, Hospital.