Determined Thurles CBS won’t let up, insists Niall Cahill

Unfamiliar terrain, yes. But talk of bonus territory has long since been banned in the Thurles CBS camp.

Manager Niall Cahill is confident his Harty Cup-winning charges can overcome tradition and a near four-week layoff in this afternoon’s Croke Cup semi-final at Carriganore, Co Waterford (2pm) — the fixture brought forward two days to accommodate St Peter’s, Wexford, boss Rory Jacob, serving as best man at a wedding on Saturday.

Thurles CBS secured the Croke Cup at the first attempt in 2009, and have since failed to return to the top table of colleges hurling. Their opponents, meanwhile, boast four Croke Cup victories and twice as many final appearances.

“This is definitely not bonus territory for us, nor are we treating it as such, players or management,” said Cahill.

“When we won the Harty Cup in 2009, that team went all the way in the All-Ireland. That set the bar for future Thurles teams.

“You look then at the two Leinster teams remaining. St Kieran’s have won the Croke Cup 19 times, St Peter’s have won it four times. They are the standard-bearers of colleges hurling. They won’t be treating this as bonus territory.

“St Peter’s are back in contention for the Croke Cup having been out of the scene in Leinster for a couple of years. For that reason alone, they will be determined to make the most of this opportunity and go as far as they can.”

Cahill has noticed a similar mindset in his own troops over the past month.

“We enjoyed the few days after winning the Harty. We were led into the school by a piper, which is a long-standing tradition here. The lads brought the cup to all the local primary schools. A line was then drawn under it and it was evident when we went back training that the hunger was just as strong as ever, if not stronger.

“The lads were very disappointed to lose out at the Harty quarter-final stage last year. They felt it was a real opportunity missed. With so many now in Leaving Cert, they are determined to travel as far down this road as they can.”

Cahill added: “I saw St Peter’s in the Leinster final defeat and subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final win. Their recycling of the ball was excellent. They were extremely tenacious and finding the target from all distances and angles.”