Resilient Thurles CBS win second Croke Cup

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

Thurles CBS 0-24

Presentation College, Athenry 2-17

Report: Noel Dundon at Croke Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Kieran Rossiter (Thurles CBS)

SCORERS - Thurles CBS: Cormac Fitzpatrick 0-10 (8 frees); Kieran Rossiter 0-4; Cillian Minogue 0-3; Euan Murray 0-2; Keith Loughnane, Robbie Ryan, David Costigan, Jack Hayes, James Butler 0-1 each.

Presentation College, Athenry: Ciaran Leen 0-10 (0-7 frees); Aaron Nyland 1-1 frees; Frank Burke 1-1; Eoin Hannon, Cian Hannon 0-2 each; Jason Rabbitte 0-1.

An incredible fightback by Thurles CBS delivered a second ever All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling title at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day to unleash wild celebrations and scenes of joy on the hallowed turf.

A victory which did not seem at all likely midway through the second half, was fashioned out of sheer hard work, patience, and plenty of knowhow, as the Thurles lads carefully dismantled the fancied Athenry side going down the final straight with a Cormac Fitzpatrick free sealing the win.

This was a most dramatic victory as Thurles were eight points adrift ten minutes into the second half, and it looked as though the game had gone beyond them.

Athenry were coasting but still Thurles kept in touch, tagging on scores before eventually getting a flurry of points to bring themselves right back into contention and set up a grandstand finish. And, what a finish it proved to be.

It was a cold, dry afternoon in Croke Park and the pitch conditions were perfect for hurling, even if there was a swirling breeze at times. Both teams had enjoyed a walk around the venue well in advance of match-day in order to become familiar with the surrounds, but even allowing for that it was a massive occasion for these young hurlers to be performing in the iconic stadium, small though the attendance was in comparison to capacity – 5,746 souls looked very lost in the cavernous stands.

Thurles knew that they had to be at their best if they were to compete with the fancied Galway men, and having performed so impressively in the semi-final against St Kieran’s College, the Athenry lads were being tipped to go on and win the All-Ireland silverware, unless the Thurles boys could throw a spoke in the wheel.

From early on it looked as though they might just do that and they enjoyed a very productive first quarter which saw them race into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead. The solitary Athenry score came from a placed ball from Ciaran Leen, whereas Thurles had points from Cormac Fitzpatrick (3), Keith Loughnane who started very well at centre back, and Kieran Rossiter.

Athenry came into the game more in the second quarter and they were 0-7 to 0-4 behind when star player Aaron Nyland was summoned from the bench – Leen (2) and Eoin Hannon getting their other scores against one from Fitzpatrick for Thurles.

Thurles were creating goal chances, but none were taken with points instead being the order of the day through Euan Murray, Cillian Minogue (2) and Fitzpatrick again which helped them into a 0-11 to 0-7 lead - Jason Rabbitte firing a wonderful score for Athenry followed by Frank Burke and Ciaran Leen scores.

However, the big score of the half came from a Nyland free in the 29th minute – a poor strike somehow evaded the Thurles rearguard and ended up in the net. It was an awful time to concede a goal and it meant that the sides went in level at the break 0-11 to 1-8.

Thurles had played most of the hurling and must surely have wondered how they were only on par with their opponents. By contrast, Athenry knew they had just gotten a massive shot in the arm, and they bounded down the tunnel at the break.

It turned out that in twelve minutes – between those two minutes before half time, and ten minutes into the second half- Athenry bagged 2-8 of their total.

Kieran Rossiter had the opening score of the half within fifteen seconds of the restart but a procession of points from Leen (3), Nyland, Eoin Hannon, Cian Hannon and Frank Burke’s 40th minute goal left Thurles eight in arrears, suffocating and looking out on their feet. Could there possibly be a way back? It didn’t seem likely in all honesty.

But, it happened, and it happened slowly. Cormac Fitzpatrick had three frees with Robbie Ryan firing over a fine score from under the Cusack Stand, to cut the deficit. Nyland and Leen traded scores with Fitzpatrick and Rossiter who fired over another score in what turned out to be a Man of the Match performance from the midfielder.

Thurles had their tails up and sub James Butler followed by Cillian Minogue left just two in it. Crucially, Thurles had momentum behind them and they pushed for home with the ever increasing influence of Euan Murray yielding a score to level the game.

A grandstand finish was on the cards and when David Costigan put Thurles back in front, the supporters dared to dream that victory could be their lot as the clock ticked down.

However, Ciaran Leen tied the game up again with a minute to go and it was all in the melting pot. That Cormac Fitzpatrick winning free put his side into the driving seat, but there was still plenty of defending to be done to prevent an Athenry score from play or from a free.

In fairness to the Thurles backs they snuffed out every chance and when referee Johnny Murphy sounded the final whistle it was pandemonium.

It had been an incredible Lazarus-like resurrection from the Thurles players who looked dead and buried. But, the tremendous spirit shown throughout the entire campaign proved vital again as they rallied and used all their experience to stem the tide and turn things in their own favour – credit to the management team also for the switches they made in personnel and on-field.

Kieran Rossiter was the standout player for Thurles CBS especially when they needed him most. His running at the Athenry defence caused huge problems while Euan Murray, Cillian Minogue, Evan Morris, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Keith Loughnane, and Toby Corbett were also in sparkling form. But, this was a whole-panel effort – congratulations to each player and to the entire management and backroom team.

TEAMS - Thurles CBS: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea 7); Toby Corbett (Upperchurch/Drombane 6), Evan Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Jack Lahart (Holycross/Ballycahill 6); Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Keith Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla 7); Euan Murray (Durlas Og 8), Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og 9); Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch 7), Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Cillian Minogue (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill, Capt 7).

Subs: James Butler (Sean Treacys 7) for T Ryan (41); Darren Hickey (Emeralds 6) for Cantwell (47); Leelan Donoghue (Durlas Og) for Costigan (60+2).

Presentation College, Athenry: Chris Callanan (6); Lucas Keane (6), Sean Murphy (7), Aodhan McDonagh (7); Oscar Fitzpatrick (6), Darragh Counihan (7), Michael Fallon (6); Robert Burke (7), Ronan Murphy (7); Cian Hannon (8), Jason Rabbitte (8), Ethan O’Brien (6); Eoin Hannon (7), Ciaran Leen (8), Frank Burke (8).

Subs: Aaron Nyland (7) for R Burke (20); Eanna McDonagh (NR) for F Burke (58); James Gibney (NR) for Hannon (60); Shane Brady (NR) for Fallon (60+2).

Referee: Johnny Murphy

(Limerick).