FLASHBACK: Report from Thurles CBS' last Croke Cup final appearance invokes real nostalgia!

Rank outsiders, Thurles CBS came up just short in their bid for a second All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior hurling title going under by three points to holders, St Kieran’s of Kilkenny, the competition specialists, who won the Croke Cup for the 20th time at Semple Stadium, Thurles, back in 2015.

The Kilkenny lads came to Thurles with a hugely impressive pedigree. Ten of their side won medals last year, and nine of them were in the Kilkenny squad that lifted All-Ireland minor honours last September.

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They had blitzed all before them in their march to Leinster honours and apart from a slightly off-key semi-final performance against Athenry, were equally impressive on their way to the All-Ireland final.

To say the odds were stacked against the Thurles lads is something of an understatement. The pundits did not give them a “prayer”, but in their toughest campaign to win the Dr Harty Cup in Munster and their All-Ireland semi-final win over St Peter’s of Wexford, they had shown a resilience and never-say-die spirit that did not entertain thoughts of defeat.

In adversity in the Saturday final in 2015, that indomitable spirit shone through until the final whistle. Almost, but not quite—Kieran’s greater range of options near goal was the decisive factor, and as Thurles look back with justifiable pride in their performance, they will also acknowledge that they had three goal chances which they failed to take, lapses that cost them a second All-Ireland crown following that won in 2009.

Two of those came in the opening ten minutes, the first after five minutes when Billy McCarthy burst through but under pressure could not get his shot away, and five minutes later when Ronan Teehan broke through but his attempt to pass to the unmarked McCarthy in front of goal, was smothered. One can only speculate how a goal at that early stage would have influenced the game.

On the restart, midfielder Cathal Moloney surged inside the Kieran’s cover, but the covering defence managed to close him down.

Credit the Kilkenny defence for some typical last-ditch defending, an aspect of the game which is not always appreciated but which wins as many games as stylish scoring.

St Kieran’s were a big strong side, with plenty of hurling. In centre half-back Jason Cleere, who won an All-Ireland Junior club medal with Bennettsbridge last year, they had a powerful leader, while Billy Ryan at full forward caused the Thurles wholesale problems.

In the first half, and free-taker Ray Lahart’s contribution, 1-5, was also a significant factor in their win. Not surprisingly, given their experience, St Kieran’s made the early running and were four points to no score clear before Thurles raised the flag. Billy McCarthy’s fifth-minute chance of a goal, and that of Ronan Teehan five minutes later, suggested the Kieran’s defence did not like forwards running at them.

Thurles did get an important break when St Kieran’s goalie Adrian Mullen dropped a high delivery from Ronan Heffernan, and Michael Connors was on hand to steer the ball to the net to level the game after 14 minutes. Niall Heffernan pointed a free a minute later to put Thurles ahead.

It was a short-lived advantage as Kieran’s struck four points in as many minutes, broken by Niall Heffernan’s free for Thurles in the 18th minute, and the Moycarkey lad kept the Thurles challenge on the move with a further pointed free after 21 minutes.

Two further Kieran’s points had them five clear but Thurles finished the half with a flourish, points from Niall Heffernan, Billy McCarthy and Michael Connors, leaving them only two adrift, but in injury time Lahart pointed a free for a St Kieran’s lead of 1-10 to 1-7 at the break.

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Kieran’s did look the better side in the first half, with scores coming more easily to them, but Thurles’ determination kept them in the hunt, and when they resumed with points from Jack Skehan and Niall Heffernan, at Cathal Moloney’s goal chance, the Kilkenny side looked very vulnerable.

Indicative of their quality however, when the challenge came St Kieran’s responded, hitting the next four points for a five-point advantage by the third quarter. Thurles needed to respond. Kevin Duggan and Michael Keogh came into the game alive. Billy McCarthy drove wide after he and Duggan linked up well, with the Thurles challenge again gaining in intensity.

However, an injury to two St Kieran’s players in that surge, and a consequent hold-up of four minutes, robbed Thurles of their momentum, though Niall Heffernan was off target with a difficult free in the 54th minute.

Thurles piled on the pressure but Sean Morrissey’s point for Kieran’s in the 59th minute gave them the breathing space.
Once more Thurles surged forward and twice Duggan and Ritchie Long whipped a breaking ball over the bar—it is as close as they have gone to the net.

Jack Skehan led the next Thurles onslaught, but he was taken for a throwing offence and Lahart lobbed the goal area.
In the scramble that followed the danger was averted, and the final whistle blew.

It was a contest befitting an All-Ireland Final and one can only applaud the heroics of the Thurles lads in their bid to overcome all the odds. It was not their day, but it could well have been, and while there was little consolation admittedly at the end of the year for them, the highlight of which was undoubtedly their winning of the coveted Dr Harty Cup.

Scorers: St Kieran’s: R Lahart (1-5, 0-4f), B Ryan 0-3, T O’Dwyer 0-1, S Morrissey 0-2, L Blanchefield 0-1, J Connolly 0-2, R Leahy 0-2.

Thurles CBS: N Heffernan 0-6 (5 frees), B McCarthy 0-2, J Skehan 0-2, M Connors 1-0, R Long 0-1, K Duggan 0-1.

St Kieran’s: Adrian Mullen; Michael Cody, Jason Cleere, Tommy Walsh; Jonathan Barron, Eoin Walsh, Jack Keoghan; Jason Byrne, Séan Morrissey; Richie Leahy, Liam Blanchefield, Tadhg O’Dwyer; Ray Lahart, Billy Ryan, Joe Connolly.

Thurles CBS: Willie Tierney (Thurles Sarsfields); Jack Derby (Thurles Sarsfields), Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty Rossmore); Tom Hayes (Moycarkey Borris), Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill), Chris McCullagh (Moycarkey Borris); Ronan Heffernan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Cathal Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields); Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields), Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill), Michael Connors (Drom & Inch); Kevin Duggan (Galmoy), Robbie Long (Drom & Inch), Niall Heffernan (Moycarkey Borris).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)

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