Battle-hardened Cashel edge to historic first Harty Cup title

GAA: TUS Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling - Dr Harty Cup Final

Cashel CS 0-12

Thurles CBS 0-11

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ger O’Dwyer (Cashel Community School)

SCORERS – Cashel CS: Ronan Connolly 0-6 frees; Adam Daly, Fabian Ryan, David McGrath, Oisin O’Donoghue, Eanna Ormond, Ben Currivan 0-1 each.

Thurles CBS: Tommy Maher 0-5 (4 frees); Robbie Ryan 0-3 frees; Aidan Stakelum, Robbie Stapleton, Bill Flanagan 0-1 each.

An historic occasion with a first all-Tipperary Harty Cup final produced an historic outcome as Cashel Community School won the Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling title for the first time after seeing off Thurles CBS on Sunday.

Played before a massive crowd of 7,283 spectators, it was a contest that failed to live up to expectations, but which was on a knife-edge all through.

There was a wonderful atmosphere at FBD Semple Stadium as two Tipperary schools faced off in the final for the first time. Thurles beat Cashel in the quarter finals last year, and were regarded by many as favourites, but a Cashel team, which had come out on the right side of so many closely-fought tussles on the way to the final, yet again showed that gritty resolve and were fully deserving of their success.

What it boiled down to was – Cashel imposed their tight-marking and very industrious game on a Thurles side which unsuccessfully sought to exploit the spacious arena.

This final was played on Cashel’s terms and, while Thurles will justifiably claim that they had the opportunities to prevail, they cannot complain about the outcome.

The better team won, and Cashel themselves spurned three scoring chances in a tense finish that could have let them breathe easier before referee Eamonn Stapleton called time.

Perhaps all the hype in the build-up to the decider got to the teams but neither played to the ability they had shown in earlier rounds. This was particularly so in Thurles’ case, a team that had run up impressive tallies on route to the final, scoring just four points from play, definitely not title-winning form.

Cashel’s strength stemmed for an excellent defence and that unit was again the basis for this win, but it was the overall resilience of their players that carried the day. They were relentless in their pursuit of possession, and while they too landed just six points from play, the manner in which they closed down the highly rated Thurles attack, was the key to their historic win. Cashel knew where the threats would come from, and they responded accordingly.

From the word go, it was apparent there was a lot of tension on both sides who reached the quarter hour mark with just two points apiece, Robbie Ryan’s initial brace for Thurles, followed by a similar contribution from Ronan Connolly for Cashel. There was plenty of endeavour from both sides, but the expected quality was lacking.

After twenty minutes, it was four points apiece, a further Connolly free for Cashel and a Fabian Ryan effort being cancelled out by a Tommy Maher free for Thurles followed by an Aidan Stakelum point.

Tommy Maher shot Thurles’ fifth point in the 26th minute for a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time advantage with the vociferous gathering hoping that the second half would produce the contest they hoped for.

Cashel had the advantage of the breeze in the second half but Tommy Maher’s 35th minute free extended the Thurles lead. Back came Cashel for points from Ben Currivan and Ronan Connolly to level by the 39th minute. Robbie Ryan nudged Thurles ahead a minute later but then came what was to prove Cashel’s winning surge.

Firstly, Ronan Connolly pointed a levelling free in the 43rd minute, followed by a similar effort for the lead in the 48th minute, crowned by an Adam Daly point in the 52nd minute for a 0-10 to 0-7 lead.

Thurles looked beaten but they showed great resolve as they responded with points from Bill Flanagan, Tommy Maher and Robbie Stapleton to draw level (0-10 each) with five minutes to play.

Thurles’ momentum was checked by a David McGrath point for Cashel a minute later, but on the hour, Tommy Maher again levelled for Thurles. Extra time looked likely but in the 61st minute Eanna Ormond looped over what proved to be the winning point for Cashel, who spurned three further chances to extend their advantage before referee Eamon Stapleton brought proceedings to a halt, prompting an invasion of the pitch by euphoric Cashel supporters.

Cashel Community School will not be worried about the quality of the hurling in the final. It was the result that mattered, and they had won this prestigious colleges’ trophy for the first time since their establishment in 1994, having previously lost the final as Cashel CBS in 1973.

They are also through to the All-Ireland semi-final with optimism growing that they will crown a memorable year by adding the Hogan cup to their trophy cabinet.

Cashel’s big guns stood tall on the day, none more so than centre half-back Ger O’Dwyer who was a towering figure all through. Behind him, Jack Quinlan was also immense while Ronan Connolly’s accuracy from frees, so vital in previous games, was again an important factor. The displays of Ben Currivan, Adam Daly, and Cian Ryan were also hugely influential.

The consolation for Thurles CBS is a place in the All-Ireland quarter-final against either Good Counsel, New Ross or Colaiste Eoin, Dublin, when they will be striving to ease the disappointment of having failed to do themselves justice in this final. This setback should provide the necessary motivation as only Evan Morris, Stephen Walsh, Tommy Maher, Joe Maher and Darragh Kelly, when introduced, reached the heights expected of them.

TEAMS - Cashel Community School: Tommy Breen (Boherlahan-Dualla 6); Cian Ryan (Golden-Kilfeacle 6), Jack Quinlan (Fethard 7), Ciaran Byrne (Golden-Kilfeacle 6); Daragh Spillane (Fethard 6), Ger O’Dwyer (Unattached 9), Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla 6); Ronan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Shane Buckley (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 6); Eanna Ormond (Golden-Kilfeacle 6), Ben Currivan (Golden-Kilfeacle 7), Oisin O Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 6); David McGrath (Cashel King Cormacs 7), Fabian Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs 6) Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 7).

Subs: Ross Darcy (Boherlahan-Dualla NR) for Ryan (60+2); Jack Dalton (Golden-Kilfeacle NR) for Ormond (60+2).

Thurles CBS: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 6); Liam Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill 6), Evan Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Padraig O’Dwyer (Killenaule 6); Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney 6), Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Stephen Walsh (Moycarkey-Borris 7); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Tommy Maher(Thurles Sarsfields 7); Joe Maher (Moycarkey/Borris 7), Daniel Rossiter (Thurles Sarsfields 6), Aidan Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 6); Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Jimmie Lahart (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), Robbie Stapleton (Thurles Sarsfields 6).

Subs: Bill Flanagan (Moycarkey/Borris 6) for Lahart (36); James Doyle (Holycross/Ballycahill 6) for Stakelum (43); Darragh Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 6) for R Ryan (45); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris) for Rossiter (57); Emmet Ralph (Durlas Og) for O’Connell (60+2).

Referee: Eamon Stapleton (Limerick).