REACTION: Thurles CBS manager hails 'unbelievable group' after heart stopping finale

A final for the ages unfolded before the eyes of a stellar band of supporters and family members in Croke Park on Monday with Thurles CBS producing something special to come back from the brink.

The celebrations - as you would expect - were a mixture of delight, relief, emotion and overall pride and that was all rolled into one through the expression of a more than satisfied manager in Niall Cahill after the epic ending to one of the most memorable schools finals in recent years.

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“All the big matches, they've come through!" manager Cahill said pridefully.

“Their work rate is always just through the roof. And that’s something to be so proud of.

“We know they’re stylish hurlers but when you know they're hard working hurlers as well, that's just brilliant.”

The players really have come full circle since starting their journey to the pinnacle of schools hurling in Ireland, beginning their run the very same way they finished it; fighting to the death and reaping the rich rewards thereafter.

It all began back in October in the first round of the Harty Cup. Four points down to St Flannan’s with time running out, they scored a goal and a last gasp point from Euan Murray to snatch a draw, and that mettle and mental resilience was in plentiful supply once again on St Patrick’s Day.

“They took that on themselves, absolutely,” said Cahill of his team’s in-game tactical tweak to get themselves back into contention.

“They (Athenry) were very strong in the air, we were losing a lot.

“I mean, the turnovers, I wouldn't think those stats look too good for us, I wouldn’t like to be looking back on it. Thankfully we won’t have to now.”

“They’re just such an unbelievable group. There’s no panic with them ever – they just get on and they find a way, they always seem to find a way. Somebody steps up – whoever it is, it’s a different lad every different day in fairness to them, but they just keep getting there.

“The lads came on and they all made a big impact that way as well – an absolute dream for them.

Eight points down in the middle of the second half and completely under the cosh, it seemed unlikely but Cahill had faith that the players would find their way.

“We were hurling very, very well in the first half but they (Athenry) got back into it and it looked like everything was going against us and starting to turn on us, but we stayed plugging away and taking ownership out on the field.

“It’s a case of 'the next man up' if somebody came off, somebody else went in and slotting in seemlessly.

“You’d have such faith in these boys.

“They’re so talented but they work so hard and that is the biggest compliment I can give them,” he said.

Cahill’s admiration for his players is clear and he heralded their success as a pathway for the next team’s to go through Thurles CBS to emulate the success of this group.

“We’re always asking for lads that come through Thurles CBS to be like that (hardworking) and that is something that we’re always most proud of; that when people are coming away from games that they say 'those boys are really hardworking'.

“it’s dream stuff. For young lads in primary school to see that is unreal, to say to themselves when they come in next September and see that that is the target for them now.

“This is only the second we’ve ever won and I was trying to say to the boys early in the year that this should be the target. We need to be winning All-Irelands. It’s taken us a long time to get the second one.”

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