'To have so many players togging out for a Harty Cup final is huge for Clare hurling'

Saturday’s Harty Cup Final between Ardscoil Rís and St Joseph’s Tulla even pits club-mates from Broadford and Sixmilebridge against each other.

St. Josephs, Tulla coach Terence Fahy celebrates at the final whistle after his side defeated De La Salle, Waterford in the TUS Dr Harty Cup semi-final. Picture: Dan Linehan

Scan down from the top line intrigue of contrasting recent Dr Harty Cup final experience and there’s a much more familiar backdrop to Saturday’s historic pairing of Ardscoil Rís and St Joseph’s Tulla in TUS Gaelic Grounds (1pm).

Five-time champions since 2020, Ardscoil Rís, are located on the Clare-Limerick border which provides a unique cocktail of players between both counties. Consequently, when facing Clare opposition, similar to November’s Dean Ryan Cup decider against eventual winners St Flannan’s that saw 27 of the 36 players on show being Banner natives. Saturday’s Harty Cup Final with East Clare stronghold St Joseph’s Tulla even pits club-mates from Broadford and Sixmilebridge against each other amidst a 45-strong Clare collective contingent.