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.