Harty Cup Previews: Expect Flannans' class to show, De La Salle can better Thurles CBS 

LAST FOUR: James Hegarty, St Flannan's College under pressure from Aidan Carroll, John the Baptist Hospital. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

St Flannan’s College, Ennis v Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, Kilmallock (J O’Halloran), 1.30pm 

The chief talking point is whether Flannan’s captain James Hegarty plays any part on Wednesday.

The 2023 All-Ireland minor winning centre-back played no part in the quarter-final win over Midleton nine days ago, albeit he did tog and went in for the toss. 

His absence would certainly narrow the perceived gap between the sides.

Although it didn’t harm them the last day, Flannan’s require more than Harry Doherty contributing in attack. 

Having watched back what he did against Midleton, 1-10 struck from the placed ball, their Cork opponents will be so careful with their discipline to limit those opportunities.

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG got the semi-final opponents they wanted. Midleton would have been too familiar, the Dean Ryan Cup final hammering still too fresh. 

Similar to Doherty, Craig Ó Suilleabháin has been carrying the bulk of their scoring load. They are going to need a bolter or two. They will give a first Harty final appearance in 31 years a right rattle.

Verdict: St Flannan's

De La Salle, Waterford v Thurles CBS, Castlelyons (C McAllister), 1.30pm 

In contradiction to a desperate few years for Waterford where minor and U20 championship results are concerned, De La Salle have assembled and moulded an incredibly strong team for this almost concluded Harty campaign. 

Aside from the three-point preliminary quarter-final win over reigning champions Nenagh CBS, Kevin Moran’s students have strolled to the last four. 

Winning margins of nine, 15, and 20 points reflect this reality.

To stop a first De La Salle final involvement since 2008 and a first Waterford final involvement since 2013, Thurles will seek scoring performances from the likes of Cormac Fitzpatrick, outstanding in the campaign to date with 2-34, Jack Hayes, Robbie Ryan, David Costigan, and Cillian Minogue.

This has been a golden few years for Tipp schools in the Harty. Two first-time winners in the last two years. Thurles are their last hope for a three-in-a-row of Premier successes.

Verdict: De La Salle