Excitement at fever pitch as Thurles CBS go in search of All-Ireland glory

GAA: Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling – Croke Cup Final Preview

By Noel Dundon

THURLES CBS v PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY

Croke Park

Monday, 17th March

Throw-in @ 3.00pm

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

As Thurles CBS prepare to take on Presentation College Athenry in the final of the Dr Croke Cup on St Patrick's Day in Croke Park, they will be constantly reminded that creating their own little bit of additional history is an opportunity which beckons for them all.

A ninth Dr Harty Cup was captured last month by the players when they dispatched St Flannan's of Ennis for the first time in a Harty final - they had also accounted for Munster powerhouses De la Salle of Waterford and Ard Scoil Rís of Limerick en-route to the title.

Then, after a month of a gap, they had a tough battle with Connacht runners-up Claregalway College in the All-Ireland semi-final in a stuttering performance which saw them hit nineteen wides. But ultimately, they won out thanks to stubborn resilience and a deep rooted sense of calm and patience which only comes about with experience.

This Thurles CBS side is very experienced despite their tender years. Medal-holding county minors and county U20 panellists exist on each line and though their birth certs might suggest players of 17, 18 or 19 years of age, in reality these guys are operating at a far more mature level. That maturity saw them through the choppy waters when St Flannan's and Claregalway made waves in the last two games, and there is no doubt that it will be required in abundance again on Monday when Athenry take to the pitch at GAA HQ.

Regarded as one of Tipperary's premier hurling nurseries, Thurles CBS is rich in the heritage of the ancient game. To amble around the corridors of the school is to take a trip back in time. From the first Harty Cup victory in 1933, to the back-to-back titles of 1938 & 1939; and 1950 & 1951; to the final of 1956 which preceded a yawning gap spanning 53 years; until that highly emotional win against St Caimin’s Community School from Shannon in 2009; the second last title secured ten years ago in 2015 against St Francis College, Rochestown; and now the 2025 version - the story of the Harty Cup love affair is there for all to see.

The years of heartbreak are recorded too, up there on the walls as reminders that on the field, as in life, things don't always work out as one would like - a life lesson for the boys of Thurles CBS and a reminder that sport can indeed be a harsh educator. But setbacks only make you stronger and the Thurles boys have had their share of those too down through the years. In fact, defeat makes winning all the more sweet - a harsh lesson for everybody in all walks of life.

It's not just the Harty that is feted, though it is the most celebrated in the CBS. Victories in the Rice Cup, White Cup, Dean Ryan, Croke Cup, Fitzgerald Cup, and many others also are immortalised on those walls while athletics, football, soccer, basketball, and many other sports are there too, accompanying academic achievements including Young Scientist successes.

"There is a lot of work going on in the school,” Thurles CBS manager Niall Cahill explains.

“The Fitzgerald Cup (Tipperary U17 ‘A’) team won last week, and our senior ‘B’ team members are playing games as well at the moment. So, the lads at the back end of the panel are pushing hard and that really drives on the squad. They have totally bought into the whole thing, and I suppose it is that sense of unity which really gives me so much satisfaction.

“Those boys will be part of the team photo on the pitch in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day and they will then be brought into the stand, but they are with us, and they will be the Harty players of next year. We are conscious of that and our work with them is as important as anything else.”

The walls of fame still have plenty of scope for future achievement, hopefully starting on Monday with a doubling of All-Ireland Senior ‘A’ schools hauls when Thurles will contest their fourth Dr Croke Cup Final. The back-to-back appearances in the final in 2008 & 2009, saw a 50/50 win to loss ratio - the win coming in the latter year against Good Council, while De la Salle of Waterford had their measure in the school’s first appearance.

A second defeat in the final in 2015 against Kilkenny's St Kieran's College hurt as well, but on the other side of the coin Monday's opponents, Presentation College Athenry, have featured in three of the last five finals and are still awaiting a first title - outside of Thurles CBS, few would begrudge the Galway school victory on our national holiday.

"Athenry have four players from the side which beat us two year ago and went on to play in Croke Park in the All-Ireland,” Cahill says of their opponents.

“So, they have a lot of experience of the big day.

“We went to Croke Park last week and walked around the place, got a feel for it, even though we were not allowed out on the grass. It was important for us to do that so that the lads could get their bearings and have an idea of what will await them on St Patrick's Day.”

The Thurles CBS project is one which stretches into the four divisions of Tipperary and even across the border into Kilkenny as well, with 26 clubs represented on the panel. The support of all will be needed in order for the vastness of Croke Park to be filled with sound and fanfare. Yes, it is an incredible chance for the players to witness the Croke Park experience - the dream of every young hurler surely - but it will certainly be a strange one too as the 82,300 seater stadium soaks up the decibels.

The management team led by Niall, as well as Stephen Maher, Pa Dunne, and Aidan Stakelum, have left no stone unturned while the back-up team has been equally as attentive in the pursuit of All-Ireland glory. The journey has been an expensive one, but support in this regard came in many forms too and the CBS are very grateful for all the assistance given by clubs, businesses, and individuals throughout the campaign- investment has been plentiful but so too have the dividends.

"I would say that we are probably the best supported school in Munster and the Harty just has something that everybody in Thurles loves,” Nenagh native Cahill added.

“We are looking forward to what will be a very special occasion and there is great excitement in the school and in the clubs involved. We hope that we will have great support in Croke Park because in a stadium like that every voice counts. We hope that past pupils who might be living in Dublin, might just come along and cheer us on - it would mean a lot to the lads.”

Thurles will be very aware of the dangers Athenry pose, but the key message for them this week will be for the CBS lads to impose their own game on the opposition. That will mean using the expanses of Croke Park to their advantage in attack, while at the same time shrinking the pitch in defence in order to shackle the Tribesman’s sharpshooters. This will not be a simple task, but the defence has had the answers to the many questions asked of them so far in the campaign and they will be determined to come up with the solutions again one last time.

Team-play will be key to winning the title; after all, that secured the Harty Cup. There was a slight deviation from this basic pillar of success in the All-Ireland semi-final, but they had the wherewithal to get back on track, starting well will be a must on Monday with a stronger sense of unity and playing for each other will be very much required.

As they make their way from St Patrick's College in Drumcondra where they will do their pre-match preparations ahead of the trip to Croke Park, the hopes of Tipperary go with the Thurles lads on Monday - victory would further endorse the growing sense that underage hurling is currently in a very strong place in the Premier County.