Borrisoleigh's St Joseph’s aim to set finals tone in Munster Hurling final

GAA: Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Hurling Final Preview

By Thomas Conway

St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh

V

CBS Dungarvan

Fethard Town Park

Friday, 30th January

Throw-in @ 1.00pm

The eyes of the schools hurling in Munster might primarily be fixed on Ennis this Saturday for the Dr. Harty Cup final between St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh and St. Flannan’s College, but 24 hours earlier, Fethard Town Park will play host to what could prove to be an equally compelling affair.

There, on the astroturf in the shadow of Slievenamon, another St. Joseph’s, the college in Borrisoleigh will confront CBS Dungarvan in the Corn Risteard Uí Mhathúna – Munster Senior ‘C’ decider.

It’s a toss up - either side could emerge as winners but St. Joseph’s are quietly confident. Their semi-final triumph over Glanmire was eye-catchingly impressive and served as a clear statement of intent.

Their joint manager, Woodwork and Technology teacher Michael Halpin, says the team were buoyed by that semi-final performance.

“Things went well for us,” he said.

“We had no injuries, we had everyone on the day, but our lads really played well. They kept Glanmire to ten points, scored 1-17 themselves, but it was a big defensive effort on our part. They just played really well.”

With an overall school population of in or around 380 students, St. Joseph’s are on the smaller end of the scale in terms of size and it’s probably fair to say they are punching above their weight. They don’t see it that way, however.

This is an ambitious school, in every context. As well as having a fine tradition of education, it has produced two All-Ireland winning Tipperary captains - Brendan Maher and Séamus Callanan.

The current squad’s co-manager, Willie Ryan, is another former Tipperary captain. He once walked the school’s halls as a student and was an instrumental component of the legendary Toomevara side of the 2000s. Michael once taught Willie. Now, they are standing together on the sideline overseeing the likes of Michael Collins, the powerful midfield linchpin who captains this St. Joseph’s outfit.

St. Joseph’s are a dynamic, young and fast-moving side which are “even enough all the way through” and “like to take their points”, according to Halpin. They do, however, have a sharp forward line which revolves around Toomevara duo Billy O’Brien and Cody Quirke, as well as centre-forward Cathal Kennedy from Borris-Ileigh itself.

They topped their group with two wins and a draw and advanced alongside fellow Tipperary school, St Mary’s Newport. Michael admits that, back when the draw was initially made, both Newport and themselves fancied their chances at going deep into the competition. The two schools featured in a high-scoring draw back in November, but subsequent wins over Presentation College Mardyke and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Blarney powered St. Joseph’s into the knockout stages where they accounted for Borrisokane Community College in the quarter final.

Their semi-final victory over Glanmire was probably their most notable win so far but it was actually quite comfortable, with the Tipp school registering 1-17 via eight different scorers. CBS Dungarvan, however, will be an entirely different ball game.

“Dungarvan ground out a victory against Youghal in the other semi-final. It was a tough match, by all accounts. They’re a hardy bunch of hurlers who have a few close victories all the way up, so we’ll be expecting a battle now on Friday,” Halpin said.

The vast majority of the panel of 33 have been in the school since first year, says Halpin, emphasising that this is a tight-knit bunch which have been “there or thereabouts” in competitions right up through the age-grades.

Injury problems have afflicted them at times. He says they just don’t have the numbers to “absorb injuries to key players”, adding that they made the decision to drop down from ‘B’ to ‘C’ last year with the intention of going and winning the competition outright.

Incidentally, only one Tipperary school - Borrisokane Community College - has won the Corn Risteard Uí Mhathúna in the past ten years. The Harty Cup decider may be the centrepiece of the weekend’s action, but this Munster ‘C’ final is in many ways just as intriguing. It would mean the world to St. Joseph’s to win it, and if they perform, they just might do.

St. Joseph’s College Borrisoleigh panel: Eoghan Anderson, Jack Gould, Daniel Groome, Jack Groome, Jamie Healy, Conor Hodgins, Tadhg Kelly, Cathal Kennedy, Conor Kinnane, Paul Kinnane, Michael O’Brien, David Rabbitte, Eoin Ryan, Luke Ryan, Michael Ryan, Oisín Ryan, Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Mark Hoare (Silvermines); Micheal Collins – Captain, Aaron Kilgallon (Templederry Kenyons); Shane Conway, Jack Fitzpatrick, Cormac Frend, Donnacha Frend, Liam Hackett, Darrah Kelly, Jonah McCarthy, Jack McCormack, Billy O’Brien, Cody Quirke, Evan Ryan Ciaran Troy, Adam Whyte (Toomevara).