REPORT: Thurles CBS show massive character to claim Croke Cup title with incredible comeback

Masita GAA Hurling Post Primary Schools Croke Cup Final

Thurles CBS 0-24

Presentation Athenry 2-17

Tipperary underage hurling continues to lead the way for the Premier county as the latest final in the recent success story got its most dramatic chapter yet as Thurles CBS mounted an incredible second-half comeback to claim the Croke Cup All-Ireland title in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day.

Trailing by 2-14 to 0-12 in the 40th minute after conceding two quick goals, it looked like the Thurles CBS sail had lost its wind in the game as Athenry burst out of the blocks in the second half to take control of the contest.

However, this group showed remarkable resilience and character to outscore the Galway team in the final 20 minutes by 0-12 to 0-3 with some incredible scores in the final ten minutes paving the way for a famous victory and just a fifth Croke Cup title for Tipperary schools.

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Scrappy passages were on show in the first ten minutes of this final with nerves understandably playing their part in this showcase final, with only two frees on the board in that time, coming from a free apiece for the sides through Cormac Fitzpatrick and Ciarán Leen.

The swirling and cutting breeze in the stadium didn’t favour anyone in particular in the opening half, but Thurles—playing into Hill 16—settled down quicker than their Galway opponents. Five points, all coming from play, put the Tipp side in front 0-6 to 0-1 by the 14th minute.

Seán Murphy was closely marking Robbie Ryan but the Thurles captain was still having an impact, winning two frees for Fitzpatrick to convert and also set up the Drom & Inch man for a point from play to boot.

Keith Loughnane intercepted a puckout in that spree to score from close range and was dominant in the middle of the defence with Jack Hayes and Kieran Rossiter all hitting fine efforts on the run, with the attacking runs of the Thurles team causing trouble for Athenry. 

Euan Murray hit his first of the game on the stroke of the 21st minute after Ciarán Leen (free) and a well-taken Eoin Hannon point from Athenry, and as if to highlight the Thurles dominance in that period, Athenry introduced Aaron Niland from the bench after 20 minutes.

Returning in the semi-final after a lengthy injury spell, the mercurial talent would leave his mark on the contest in a positive and negative sense but Thurles continued to hold that four-point advantage coming up to the 28 minute mark with two points from Cillian Minogue and a Cormac Fitzpatrick free giving them a 0-11 to 0-7 lead.

However, Athenry made the most of a couple of lapses in concentration before the interval, first through a Cian Hannon point from close range after Thurles failed to clear the lines. Soon after, Niland surprised Harry Loughnane and his defence when the Clarinbridge ace went for goal from a close-range 21-yard free, catching out the Roscrea goalie as the ball trickled into the net.

That wouldn’t be the last such effort from Niland but as it was, it gave great drive to the Galway school going in at the break, somehow level after the Tipperary school had done most of the hurling in the opening half.

Kieran Rossiter restarted the game in emphatic fashion for Thurles, winning possession from the throw-in before showing searing pace to run into space and point within 15 seconds, but the momentum quickly shifted to the Galway players in the third quarter.

On either side of half-time, the Connacht champions hit 2-7 to Thurles’ 0-1 up to the 40th minute with Niland, Ciarán Leen, Eoin Hannon, and Cian Hannon all pointing in succession and when Frank Burke burned two Thurles defenders to bury a second goal past Harry Loughnane in the 40th minute, it looked like the game was slipping away.

Trailing 2-14 to 0-12, it looked like a tall order to pull the game back considering the dominance Athenry were enjoying after half-time, but slowly, Thurles started to drag themselves back into contention and between the 41st and 46th minute, they would hit four points thanks to three Fitzpatrick frees and a classy effort from under the shadow of the Cusack Stand from Robbie Ryan.

Aaron Niland nullified Thurles's scoring spree with a special effort of his own from range in the 47th minute, but joy began to be cultivated high up the pitch for Thurles. The peerless Kieran Rossiter added his fourth and fifth points, along with a brilliant score from substitute James Butler, bringing Thurles back to within two points with 52 minutes elapsed.

A sea change moment came quickly after that Butler point and it came through an unlikely event with Aaron Niland making a baffling decision. 

The Galway men had manufactured a free close to goal and with an easy point surely the only option to take in order to push them back out to a three-point lead, he decided to try and re-create his first-half exploits and went for a cheeky goal effort that would ultimately backfire spectacularly for him and his team with the attempt hitting the side-netting.

Thereafter, Thurles would take complete control in their search to move in front, and with the forwards now on top of their men, the necessary scores came with Euan Murray, Cillian Minogue, and a brilliant first for David Costigan put Thurles in front with two minutes of normal time remaining, producing a brilliant flick off the ground to put himself into space and fire over on the run.

Athenry deserves credit for responding before the clock ticked into the red with the impressive Ciarán Leen scoring a fantastic solo effort on the run to equalise but the Thurles momentum manufactured a late scoring chance.

IN PICTURES: Wild celebrations after Thurles CBS performs Lazarus-like win in Croker!

Jason Rabbitte was a handful all game at centre forward but the Athenry captain was responsible for the late free that would ultimately win the game for Thurles, tripping Ryne Bargary near the 45 with his foot, and with Cormac Fitzpatrick nailing the pressure free, Thurles held out to claim one of the most incredible wins in Tipperary schools history in GAA headquarters.

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

Presentation Athenry: Ciarán Leen (0-9, 0-6f), Aaron Niland (1-2, 1-0f), Frank Burke 1-1, Eoin Hannon, Cian Hannon 0-2 each, Jason Rabbitte, Cian Hannon 0-1 each.

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

Subs used: James Butler (Sean Treacys) for T Ryan (41); Darragh Hickey (Emeralds) for Cantwell (47); Leelan Donoghue (Thurles Sarsfields) for Costigan (63).

Presentation Athenry: Chris Callanan (Clarinbridge); Lucas Keane (Craughwell), Seán Murphy (Clarinbridge), Aodhán McDonagh (Athenry); Oscar Fitzpatrick (Clarinbridge), Darragh Counihan (Clarinbridge), Michael Fallon (Clarinbridge); Robert Burke (Kilconieran), Ronan Murphy (Clarinbridge); Cian Hannon (Athenry), Jason Rabbitte (Athenry), Ethan O’Brien (Turloughmore); Eoin Hannon (Athenry), Ciarán Leen (Craughwell), Frank Burke (Athenry).

Subs used: Subs used: Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge) for R Burke (20); Éanna McDonagh (Athenry) for F Burke (58); James Diviney (Athenry) for C Hannon (60); Shay Brady (Athenry) for Fallon (64).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)