Jack Hayes' goal the difference as Thurles CBS edge St Flannan's Ennis to land Harty Cup
They are now fourth - alongside St Colman’s College, Fermoy - in the roll of honour with nine cups. A HARTY BATTLE: Marco Cleary of St Flannans Ennis in action against Evan Morris of Thurles CBS during the Dr Harty Cup final. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile. Sat, 01 Feb, 2025 - 15:35 Therese O’Callaghan, Mallow
Harty Cup Final: Thurles CBS 1-13 St Flannan's Ennis 0-13
It’s a TUS Dr Harty Cup title number nine for Thurles CBS at a damp and blustery Mallow on Saturday.
With the start time delayed by five minutes due to the big crowd in attendance, this result came down to sheer heart and determination.
The final scoreline was nowhere near the 2-21 apiece they scored in the group stage, it was no classic either, but that will not bother the victors in the slightest.
Their deserved triumph came after they withstood a physical and dogged affair.
They are now fourth - alongside St Colman’s College, Fermoy - in the roll of honour.
It had been 10 years since their previous title.
Three-in-a-row too for Tipperary schools after Nenagh CBS and Cashel Community School victories in 2024 and 2023 respectively. Incidentally, Thurles CBS lost that final two years ago. An incentive no doubt.
The man-of-the-match gong went to David Costigan who epitomised everything that was good about the new champions. There were seven valuable points for free-taker Cormac Fitzpatrick too.
A special mention also for dependable goalkeeper Harry Loughnane who played with a broken finger, it was an injury he picked up in their semi-final win over De La Salle College Waterford 10 days earlier.
Just the one goal as well, and it turned out to be a hugely important score from Jack Hayes in the 39th minute.
In testing conditions, it only took Fitzpatrick 35 seconds to open the scoring for Thurles CBS following a foul on midfielder Kieran Rossiter.
Thurles CBS captain Robbie Ryan lifts the Dr Harty Cup after winning the Dr Harty Cup final match between Thurles CBS and St Flannans Ennis at Mallow GAA Complex in Cork. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile.
A couple of minutes later Harry Doherty (finished with 0-10) fired over the equaliser for St Flannan’s College.
Nerves were evident with both teams missing scoreable frees.
Thurles CBS started to push up on a more physical St Flannan’s defence, their reward a wonderfully struck Euan Murray point in the ninth minute.
It started a run of scores for the Tipperary school with placed ball expert Fitzpatrick landing a ’65 and man-of-the-match David Costigan weaving his way through to execute another delightful score.
A Fitzpatrick point from a free after captain Robbie Ryan was fouled nudged them 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes.
The remaining 10 minutes plus two of additional time would belong to St Flannan’s College.
Two Doherty frees got the ball rolling, they were followed by a brilliant off the hurley score from midfielder Daniel Costelloe.
On a roll now, Doherty levelled the scores in the 27th minute, the foul on Marco Cleary.
They saw out stoppage time with more flags from wing-back Robert Loftus and a James Hegarty ’65 after a Cleary’s shot was deflected over the end line.
They went to the dressing-room 0-7 to 0-5 in front after ending the half with six wides, twice as many as their opponents.
Despite the two-point deficit, Thurles CBS would have to be happy with their first 30 minutes into the wind.
The contest came alive in the second half.
While indiscipline supplied the first four points - shared equally - the decisive goal arrived in the 39th minute from Jack Hayes after corner-back Toby Corbett sent a long ball in and the Moycarkey Borris forward turned his marker to find the net.
By the three-quarter stage, the gap was extended to 1-10 to 0-10 with Cillian Minogue firing a brace.
With 10 minutes remaining, the margin had grown to five.
St Flannan’s College came strong again, Doherty clipping three from frees and in the first of three additional minutes, it was a two-point match, 1-12 to 0-13.
They were a bit wayward though.
They needed a goal. Thurles CBS stood tall.
Killian Cantwell who had just come back on grabbed the insurance point in the 62nd minute.
They held firm once more despite ferocious pressure from St Flannan’s College in the closing moments.
After a couple of weeks of celebration, Thurles CBS go straight into the All-Ireland semi-final while St Flannan’s College must pick themselves up for a quarter-final against Presentation College Athenry.
Scorers for Thurles CBS: C Fitzpatrick (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65), J Hayes (1-0), C Minogue (0-2), K Cantwell, E Murray, D Costigan and R Ryan (0-1 each).
Scorers for St Flannan’s College: H Doherty (0-10, 0-9 frees), J Hegarty (’65), R Loftus and D Costelloe (0-1 each).
THURLES CBS: H Loughnane (Roscrea); T Corbett (Upperchurch Drombane), E Morris (Holycross Ballycahill). J Lahart (Holycross Ballycahill); K Cantwell (Moycarkey Borris), K Loughnane (Thurles Sarsfields), R Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla); E Murray (Durlas Óg), K Rossiter (Durlas Óg); T Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris), C Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch); J Hayes (Moycarkey Borris), C Minogue (Thurles Sarsfields), R Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill, Capt).
Subs: J Butler (Sean Treacys) for T Ryan (50), D Hickey (Emeralds) for K Cantwell (59), K Cantwell for R Bargary (61 inj).
ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE: M Ó Coilleáin (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield); C Daly (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), J Casey (Kilmaley, S McNamara (Clooney Quin); J Cullinan (Ruan), J Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona, Capt), R Loftus (Éire Óg); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Kearney (Ballyea); R Kilroy (Banner), D Bell (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), H Doherty (Clarecastle); G Bell (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), C Ralph (Clarecastle), M Cleary (Éire Óg).
Subs: D McNamara (Clooney Quin) for G Bell (half-time), C Hill (Ballyea) for J Cullinan (43), P O’Connell (Clarecastle) for D Bell (52), N Hegarty (Inagh Kilnamona) for D Kennedy (56).
