LONG READ: Nenagh CBS manager praises influence of Darragh McCarthy ahead of Harty Cup final

There is no mistaking the mood around Nenagh CBS as the countdown to another Harty Cup final continues. Mere days out from the decider, the sense of anticipation is everywhere, fuelled by a semi-final win that carried both significance and statement.

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“Sure, it’s brilliant,” said manager Donach O’Donnell. “There’s a great atmosphere around the place. We went on to win against a really good team, Thurles, who were champions last year. It’s great. It’s a great present for us.”

While reaching a final was always an ambition, O’Donnell believes this Nenagh group has grown steadily into the challenge as the competition has unfolded.

“It’s matured a lot. I think every day we’re learning something. We’re picking up little nuggets all the time. Yeah, the group is developing nicely.”

Standing between Nenagh and a second Harty Cup title in three years are familiar opponents. The final brings a reunion with St Flannan's College, a side Nenagh know well from the group stages.

“Yeah, they’re a really good team. As we saw in the group stages, there was a draw and there was nothing between us.

“We were well up at half time and they dragged us back into it. We were lucky to get the draw in the very end.”

The final will be played at a venue that holds positive memories for Nenagh, having already tasted success there two years ago. That familiarity, O’Donnell feels, can only help, especially with strong backing expected from the school community.

“Yeah, we’re very lucky. We’ve got really good support within the school from staff and students. And again, the fact that we were there two years ago, a lot of the panel would be familiar with the place.

“It’s a really good surface and there’s a good atmosphere down there. Ideally, Thurles would have been lovely, but it’s a good second choice.”

Beyond the school gates, Nenagh’s rise has been felt across a wide hurling catchment. With players drawn from numerous clubs, the support has grown in tandem with results.

“You can feel it around the place. The support we’ve had from people and clubs around is really, really good. There’s a real feel-good factor about it. And the fact that you’re at the top table with the top teams in the country, it’s really nice to be there.”

That success has prompted outside commentary around recruitment, something O’Donnell is keen to put into context, particularly when compared with traditional powers.

“Well, it’s been a tradition for years with Flannan’s and Colman’s. They were boarding schools and they were the top two teams by a long, long shot.

“We contested a couple of finals with them way back and were well beaten. But it’s lovely to get a couple of guys in. To be honest, we don’t get too many. I think there’s one or two from this panel. Other than that, most of them are there from first year.”

Inevitably, comparisons are drawn with the 2024 title-winning side. While different in personnel, this team has been earmarked to assault this competition since winning the Dean Ryan U17 Munster Schools’ title two years ago.

“They’re different in some ways. The common thing is how close they are as a group. They work for each other, support each other and stick together through thick and thin.

“That core is there from two years ago. A lot of them were on the panel then, maybe not featuring, but they were there. We’d say two or three players were on that team. Eoghan started and two came on, Austin Duff and Joe O’Dwyer. There are differences, but overall, I think our bench, our second 15, is probably a bit stronger than two years ago.

“We’re carrying 43 on the panel, and a lot of them have had game time. We’ve looked at different subs for different games, so there’s great competition.”

Leadership again sits at the heart of Nenagh’s challenge, with captain Eoghan Doughan carrying responsibility with assurance and plenty of experience in this scenario.

“He’s a real leader. He’s taken on all the pressure in his stride. I think he’s learned from two years ago and probably learned from Darragh McCarthy as well, who he’s been playing with for the last number of years. He’s a great kid and a really good leader for us.”

This panel has long been viewed as a special group within the school, and O’Donnell acknowledges there was a sense of responsibility to maximise their potential.

“We had a good Dean Ryan team two years ago, and a lot of them played Harty last year. We got out of the group but lost the preliminary quarter-final. Physically, I don’t think we were developed enough.

“There’s a huge difference between a 17 or 18-year-old and a 19-year-old who’s been playing senior hurling all summer.
“We’ve had a good few of those this year compared to last year.

“A lot of them are the same players, but that extra year of development and hurling has brought them on a huge amount.”

The prestige of the Harty Cup itself continues to be a powerful motivator, something O’Donnell feels is deeply understood by his players.

“I think the Harty competition itself is very prestigious and something we don’t take lightly.

“It’s a real honour to be involved in it and to be competing well in it. It’s hugely important to us as a school and the players all know that. There’s a real emphasis on trying to make the Harty team, the Harty panel, the Harty squad.

“That drive is really innate in them. They’re playing at a really high level. It’s very close to county under-20 standard. If you’re playing well at Harty level, you’re close to those panels. The prestige and the hype around the competition has really grown over the last few years as well.”

Continuity behind the scenes has also been important, with former players remaining closely involved in the setup and acting as a bridge between management and the squad. Tipperary senior hurler Sean Kenneally filled that role in 2024, and now, the baton has passed to Tipperary star Darragh McCarthy.

“I think it’s important to have someone close to the players, even in age. Seán was captain a couple of years ago and got involved with us. He’s a great sounding board.

“You get nuggets of information about a guy who might be in bad form or a guy who’s going well at club level. That closeness is really important. You can often send messages through someone like that.

“As I said, Seán and even Mark (Gennery) got involved straight away when they finished school. Now we have Darragh as well. It’s really good to have that closeness to the group,” he finished.

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