Nenagh begin the defence of the Harty Cup

It’s hard to believe that it is over eight months since St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh finally got their hands on the Harty Cup and today (Wednesday) they begin the defence of the trophy as one of four Tipperary schools taking part in this year’s competition.

By Shane Brophy

21 schools will take part in this seasons TUS Dr. Harty Cup, divided into three groups of four teams and three groups of three teams. The top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage. Top team in the groups of 4 and one drawn team from the winners of group of 3 go straight to quarter finals in January. The remaining two group winners and all second place teams will play in preliminary quarter finals.

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh

Nenagh CBS will have to overcome Cork opposition if they are to make the knockout stage, drawn in a three team group with beginning with Midleton CBS and St Francis’ College, Rochestown.

From the side that made history last February when they defeated Ardscoil Ris in the final in Ennis, it is set to be virtually an entire new team with defenders Conor Grace and Gavin McGrath, plus Eoin Doughan the only survivors from the starting fifteen, as well as subs Austin Duff, Brian O’Meara, Joe O’Dwyer and new captain Darragh Treacy.

They do have a strong group coming behind that won the Dean Ryan Cup for the first time last year with Tipperary All-Ireland minor winners Billy O’Brien, Paddy McCormack, and Patrick Ryan.

Panel: Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Conor Grace, Johnny Grace, Diarmaid O’Donoghue, Keith O’Donoghue, Joe O’Dwyer, Thomas Ryan (Burgess); Diarmuid Fogarty, Gavin McGrath, Dara O’Dwyer, Evan Sherlock (Kiladangan); Shane Cleary, Cormac Gaynor, Cillian Healy, Michael Hennelly, Jack Quinlisk, Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Eoghan Doughan, Cormac Hoolan, Paddy McCormack, Adam O’Brien (Moneygall); Eoin Garrigan, Conor Hodgins, Emmet Jones, Billy O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og); Cian Hogan, Matthew Madden, Liam O’Callaghan, Jack Quinn (Portroe); Eoin Grace, Brendan McGrath, Daniel McKelvey, Brehon O’Donnell, Danny Quinn, Jack Quirke Jones, Conor Ryan, Darragh Treacy (Capt) (Silvermines); Patrick Hackett, Darragh Hayes, Jack Hogan, Austin Duff (Toomevara).

Our Lady’s SS, Templemore

Our Lady’s Templemore have been drawn in a four team group, starting out against Colaiste Choilm from Ballincollig, before taking on two Limerick schools in Castletroy College and the powerful Ard Scoil Ris.

Templemore have lost a lot of key players from last year’s squad but have All-Ireland minor panellists Philip O’Dwyer, Jack Marnell and Sean Walsh to call on while fifteen-year-old Christopher Dunne is one to watch.

Panel: Jack Bevans, Eoin Boyle (Borris-Ileigh); Sean Stapleton (Clonakenny); Cormac Cahill, Mark Conroy, James Duffe, Darragh Hoare, Paddy Hoare, James Ryan, Jack Sheridan (Drom & Inch); Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole); Cormack Bourke, Jack Burke, Sean Burke, Tommy Burke, Dan Coffey, Billy Collier, Cian Broderick, Niall Delaney, Dayle Hogan, Jack Marnell, Kieran Martin, Padraic O’Shea, Euan Patterson, Sean Walsh (JK Brackens); Thomas Bohan, Richie Morris, Joey Quinn, Cathal Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney); Shay Gleeson (Moneygall); John Cleere (Moyne-Templetuohy); Liam Dunphy, Declan Walsh (Roscrea); Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane).

Thurles CBS

Thurles CBS are among the favourites for this seasons Harty Cup as they are backboned by a large number of Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning squad including Euan Murray, Cillian Minogue and Tiarnan Ryan to name but three, as well as players who featured for Tipp at under 20 level including Robbie Ryan.

They are in a three team group, starting off against old rivals St. Flannan’s College, Ennis in round one with the other team in the group being Tralee CBS who become the first Kerry school to compete in the competition.

Panel: Jack Cahill (Ballingarry); Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla); Jack Heffernan, Frank O’Dwyer, Danny O’Keeffe (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Jack Costello, Sean Dempsey, Jamie Shanahan (Drom & Inch); Leelan Donoghue, James Lloyd, Cillian Minogue, Euan Murray, Evan Nolan, Kyle O’Dowd, Ronan O’Dwyer, Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og); Colman Moloney (Galmoy); Darren Ryan (Gortnahoe/Glengoole); Jack Lahart, Evan Morris, Jack O’Dwyer, Cian Ryan, Robbie Ryan, Sean Ryan, Tadhg Ryan, Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill); Tony Ryan (Killenaule); Daniel McCahey (Loughmore/Castleiney); Killian Cantwell, David Costigan, Daniel Hayes, Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris); Ben Moore (Moyne-Templetuohy); Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); James Butler, Max Carroll, Larry Collins (Sean Treacys); John Broderick, Tristan Kelly, Keith Loughnane, Ronan O’Brien (Thurles Sarsfields); Toby Corbett, Padraig Griffin, Michael Quinlan, Sean Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane).

Cashel Community School

2023 winners Cashel Community School have almost an entirely new squad from that historic success as they start out in group 3 against Charleville CBS, with Blackwater Community School Lismore and, St. Joseph’s SS from Tulla making up the group.

Panel: Andrew Breen, Conor Fogarty, Brian Gleeson, Kieran O’Neill (Boherlahan-Dualla); Callum Butler Buckley, Kyle Cully, Eoghan Dunne, Briain O’Donoghue, Patrick O’Donoghue, Colm Ryan, Eimhin Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs); Shane Cooney, Ryan O’Sullivan (Clerihan); Adam Tobin (Clonmel Og); Seamus Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Noah O’Flynn, Rory O’Mahony, Charlie Walsh (Fethard); James Finn, Harry Fogarty, Charlie Hall, Sam Hall, Kevin Hogan, Cian Lonergan, Cian Madden Ryan, Jamie Moloney, Eoghan White (Golden Kilfeacle); Aaron Horgan, Senan Mackey, Tom O’Driscoll (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Aaron O’Dwyer, Niall Tobin (Rockwell Rovers), Colin Bourke, Willie Colville (Rosegreen); Cormac Brennan (St Mary’s).

The other teams competing in the Harty Cup are:

Group 1 – Rice College, Ennis; John The Baptist, Hospital; CBC Cork, Scoil Na Trionoide Naofa, Doon

Group 5 – De La Salle College, Waterford; Gaelcholaiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh, (Cork); St. Colman’s College, Fermoy