PREVIEW: Thurles CBS facing their equals in what could be a Harty Cup final for the ages

Dr. Harty Cup Final Preview 

Thurles CBS vs St. Flannan's College, Saturday February 1 in Mallow @ 1pm

The premier schools competition in Munster hurling has seldom failed to deliver and that is the expectation once again as powerhouses Thurles CBS and St. Flannan’s College lock horns for the second time this season on Saturday.

Both schools have storied histories in this competition including recent appearances in finals with varied results, but the fact that the two teams met in the group stages - back in October in round 1 - adds an extra layer of intrigue. 

On that day it was a smash-and-grab effort from Thurles CBS who scored 1-1 in added time in the group 6 clash in Cappamore, reeling in St. Flannan’s who were the better team on the day.

Those Thurles CBS scores came from Cormac Fitzpatrick (goal) and a fantastic late point from Euan Murray and it was a massive reality check for a Thurles CBS team that were touted as potential winners from the outset.

It is fair to say that the Tipperary school have improved with each passing game since then and has settled on a formula that has put in some fine performances; most notably once the knockout games started in early January.

The vast majority of personnel remains the same with the exception of the use of the player of the match from the 2024 Minor All-Ireland final, Tiarnan Ryan.

The Holycross Ballycahill man has been held in reserve as an impact substitute since the group stages, with management starting Sean Treacys’ James Butler to add ball-winning ability and workrate to a side that is saturated with scoring talent; this has added balance to the side, undoubtedly.

Thurles have impressive quality in their attack with Cillian Minogue starring in the semi-final win, while Robbie Ryan, Jack Hayes, Cormac Fitzpatrick, and David Costigan are all involved in the Tipperary U20 squad.

Add to that the class of Euan Murray and his Durlas Óg counterpart Kieran Rossiter and you have a strong base to attack from; with 24 of the 28 points coming from play in the semi-final. In all, the CBS has scored 7-120 this term, averaging 29 points per game.

Some lapses in concentration at the back against De La Salle will be concerning for management ahead of this one, with goals being conceded cheaply at different times in Castlelyons with the defensive concession this year at 8-75 which is an average of 20 points.

Looking at St. Flannan’s, they have impressed themselves and when you look at their dominance in the corresponding group fixture between the sides, along with the fact that they have scored more with 10-86 (avg, 30 points) and conceded less with 5-55 (avg, 17.5 points) in their games, so it highlights how little there could be come the end of the contest.

The Clare school have qualities of their own with county players in the form of James Hegarty, Ronan Kilroy, Harry Doherty, Darragh Ball, Dara Kennedy, Conor Ralph and their ilk all a part of successful Clare teams in recent years.

Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since the sides meeting in October and the form lines have improved on both sides since then.

Thurles have just three survivors who featured in the 2023 final loss to Cashel Community School with Evan Morris, Robbie Ryan, and Jack Hayes all tasting action that day, and the nature of the performance in that loss will have this trio chomping at the bit, and no doubt motivating their teammates to greater heights ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

This latest instalment of Tipperary versus Clare is as interesting and mouth-watering as the games that have come at underage level in the recent past, and that is a testament of what might be one of the great Harty Cup finals. 

Only one thing can be predicted with a fair degree of certainty; this one will be an absolute cracker.