Nenagh chasing elite status in Harty Final

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

By Shane Brophy

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh

v

St Flannan’s College, Ennis

Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog, Ennis

Saturday, 31st January

Throw-in @ 1.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh can establish themselves as a power in post primary schools hurling by claiming a second Dr. Harty Cup title when they play St Flannan’s College, Ennis in the final on Saturday.

Not only that, to win it for the second time in the space of three campaigns would mark them among the great teams with captain Eoin Doughan the lone survivor from the starting fifteen that defeated Ardscoil Ris in the 2024 decider, with Austin Duff and Joe O’Dwyer also having final experience after coming on as subs that day.

It’s why losing the toss to host the final and having to travel to Ennis, not far from the famed St Flannan’s College, will hold no fears as it is a venue that has good memories.

Also, for the likes of aforementioned, Doughan, Duff, as well as Billy O’Brien and Patrick Ryan, they have experience of going into the lion’s den for Tipperary in an All-Ireland final at minor level in 2024 and coming out the right side of the result against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.

On the balance of tradition, Nenagh CBS shouldn’t stand a chance, a team with one Harty Cup title from five previous final appearances, while St Flannan’s lead the roll of honour with 22 titles in what is a 42nd Harty Cup final appearance today, looking to win it for the first time since 2020.

The last couple of years have been a real coming of age for Nenagh CBS. In the hurling stronghold of North Tipperary, ten of the eighteen clubs in the division are represented on the 43 man panel, the 2024 success was long overdue, particularly having seen Our Lady’s Templemore and Cashel Community School add their names to the roll of honour in recent years, joining Rockwell College, Thurles CBS, The Abbey School, Tipperary Town, and Templemore CBS as the schools from Tipperary as the winner of the famed trophy.

Such is the standing of the Dr. Harty Cup, it is seen as bigger for the Munster schools as it is winning the All-Ireland (Croke Cup) title which both Nenagh CBS and St Flannan’s can still target a St Patrick’s Day rematch at Croke Park, regardless of today’s result, but “the Harty” is the one they crave.

This is a Nenagh team battled-hardened on route to the final, emerging from the most competitive group made up of four schools who had each won a Harty since 2018. The opening round draw against St Flannan’s College doesn’t give either side the initiative for this final rematch, although Nenagh opened up a big lead before losing talismanic skipper Eoghan Doughan to injury at half time, and were reeled in.

They followed it up with an impressive win over Ardscoil Ris before routing Cashel in the final game. Nenagh ended up finishing runners-up and were handed a quarter final against an always strong Midleton CBS who were defeated comfortably, setting up a semi-final against defending champions Thurles CBS which they edged in an epic.

This is a more rounded Nenagh squad than two years ago, although similar in other ways, particularly with captain Eoghan Doughan doing the majority of the scoring in the forwards as Darragh McCarthy did in 2023/2024. It’s a lot of pressure but he has relished the role so far. However, Nenagh could do with taking more of that load off him, as they did in the 2024 final when Doughan was one of the players who stood tall with a three point haul. Patrick Hackett has been powerful at full forward while the good surface and wide expanses of Ennis will play more to the skillset of Eanna Tucker, Joe O’Dwyer, Patrick Ryan and Austin Duff.

Defensively, Nenagh are very solid with a strong spine of Dara O’Dwyer and Shane Cleary, with both having the ability to play both at centre and full back. The likelihood is that O’Dwyer will start at full back to try and negate Thomas O’Connor who was central to Flannan’s come-back quarter final win over Templemore, while Shane Cleary could get the man-marking role out on Ennis talisman Harry Doherty.

Behind them, goalkeeper Paddy McCormack has a booming puckout, plus his long range free-taking ability is another scoring weapon.

Nenagh CBS have passed every test put in front of them so far but this Saturday’s final against the aristocrats St Flannan’s, effectively in their own backyard, is as hard as they come. They certainly have the talent and toughness to pass with straight A’s.