School on the Kerry and Limerick border hoping for All-Ireland glory

“It’s the 50th year of the school’s existence, and we refer to it a lot. It would be massive to win it."

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024 - 12:17

Eoghan Cormican

The students of Tarbert Comprehensive have already marked the 50th anniversary of the school’s opening with a Munster colleges senior C football crown. On Saturday afternoon, they’re hoping to mark the school’s golden anniversary with All-Ireland glory.

Blocking their path to the winner's enclosure is St Malachy’s High School Castlewellan. The pair meet at Netwatch Cullen Park at 2pm.

“It’s the 50th year of the school’s existence, and we refer to it a lot. It would be massive to win it,” says Martin Stack, joint manager of Tarbert Comprehensive.

“Everybody seems to be rowing in behind us. The clubs have been absolutely excellent to us. They have really helped us out, making pitches available, monitoring the boys’ progress and making sure that they’re not being burnt out.

“Even in school, everyone is behind us. I’m not going to mention anyone, but staff, ancillary, office, the whole lot, everyone is involved in it, and it makes an awful difference.”

Another member of the Tarbert management Cormac Leane, describes their road to Carlow as “stressful” rather than enjoyable. Relief tends to be the overriding emotion at each final whistle. It’s easy to see why.

In the Munster semi-final, they trailed Spanish Point by five deep in the second half. In the provincial decider against Bantry, they were three behind. Both games were snuck by the solitary.

In their All-Ireland semi-final against Mercy Ballymahon, they let slip a seven-point lead in injury time and had to get the job done a second time in extra-time.

“The boys showed great character (in extra-time), which they’ve done in every game, and they pulled it out of the fire,” said Leane.

“They just fail to give in, they never throw in the towel,” Stack added.

Both men are in agreement as to where this spirit comes from. Remember this isn’t a club team where they all grew up together. They’re pulling from Tarbert and Moyvane predominantly, with a sprinkling from Limerick clubs Athea, St Senan’s, and Gerald Griffins.

For the Kerry lads, playing together for North Kerry - the division reached last year’s county minor final - has brought them closer and brought them on.

“You can’t beat experience. Things have obviously been going very well for North Kerry recently, and it’s probably helped in gelling the boys together too. They got on very well in school, but now they gel on the field even more so,” says Leane.

Half-forward and team captain Shaun Wren of Tarbert agrees with the above sentiment.

“It has been a help building chemistry with the other lads from Moyvane. In the club scene, there would be a bit of a rivalry there, but that’s been put to the side. We’re all the one team in Tarbert Comprehensive.

“Hopefully, there’s an All-Ireland soon to come. I think it would be very good for the school. Even since we won the Kerry Cup, there’s been a serious buzz around the place. The teachers are coming up to you and congratulating you and saying well done. It would be massive to the town, as well.”