Our Lady’s and Thurles in mouth-watering Harty Cup clash

THE draws for the knock-out stages of the Credit Union Dr Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí made at the Munster Colleges Council in Mallow on Saturday, produced some mouth-watering contests.

In the Harty Cup, the headline fixture is the all Tipperary meeting of Our Lady’s, Templemore and Thurles CBS. Thurles have struggled to beat Our Lady’s in recent years, and while they’ll start favourites, the Templemore school, already winners of this year’s Dean Ryan Cup, will make a bold bid to reach the last four.

Last year’s defeated Harty Cup finalists, St Flannan’s, face a tricky quarter-final against Ard Scoil Rís who have been very impressive in the preliminary rounds. Carrigaline Community School meet Waterford Colleges while DLS Waterford, one of the favourites for the title, will play Charleville CBS.

The Corn Uí Mhuirí draws have thrown up a number of derbies, including the all-Kerry clash of Dingle CBS and St Brendan’s along with the all-Cork pairing of Coláiste Chríost Rí and Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh.

Champions DLS Macroom drew Glanmire CS, and according to Macroom principal Noel Dunne, it’s a game they are capable of winning.

He said: “It’s nice to avoid three of the favourites, but there are no easy games when you reach this stage of the championship.

“Glanmire topped their group and have a fine team. We recovered well after a disastrous start against St Brendan’s and this is a game the lads will relish. Having lost the bulk of last year’s winning team, it’s a bonus to reach this stage of the championship, and we won’t give up our title easily”.

Championship favourites Tralee CBS, who were shocked by St Flannan’s at the same stage last year, will relish the opportunity to turn the tables on the Ennis college.

At the meeting, outgoing treasurer Donal O’Keeffe told the delegates that some schools have yet to claim their expenses for the year under review. He added that the Council had made a profit of €21,691, primarily made up of €19,000 taken in gate receipts from the Harty Cup. Corn Ui Mhuirí generated €9,000. Total gate receipts amounted to €42,756.

Chairman Timmy O’Callaghan stepped down after three years in office.

The election of officers resulted as follows: Chairman: Eamon Moroney (Scarriff); Vice-chairman, Christy Killeen (Tarbert); Hon Sec. Michael Forestall; Hon. Treas. Donal O’Keeffe (Mitchelstown CBS); Servicing Officer, Tom Collum. Delegate to Munster Council, Donal O’Keeffe.

Harty Cup quarter-finals:

A: St. Flannan’s v Ard Scoil Ris. B: Carrigaline CS v Waterford Colleges. C: Thurles CBS v Our Lady’s. D: Charleville CBS v DLS Waterford.

(All games on Wednesday, January 21).

Semi-finals: A v B; C v D.

(Both on weekend February 10/11. Final, March 11).

Corn Ui Mhuirí quarter-finals:

A: Glanmire CS v DLS Macroom. B: St. Brendans v Dingle CBS. C: Tralee CBS v St. Flannan’s. D: Colaiste Chríost Rí v Spioraid Naoimh. (All games on Wednesday, January 31).

Semi-finals: A v B; C v D.

(Both on weekend February 24/25. Final March 18).

Corn Phadraigh (“B” SHC) draws: A: quarter final: Clonmel CBS v Doon CBS, January 31.

Semi-finals: Colaiste Chriost Rí v A winners; CSN v Carrignavar.

Both games on February 12. Final weekend March 2/4.

Corn an Uachtarain (“B” SFC) semi-finals: St. Augustines v Clonmel CBS; Tarbert v Tipperary.

Both games on February 7th.