Harty Cup permutations: quarter-final spots up for grabs in final group clashes

10 schools remain in the hunt for six remaining spots in the knockout stage.

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 - 19:00

Denis Hurley

Less has definitely meant more in terms of jeopardy in the TUS Dr Harty Cup.

A reduction from 21 schools in the 2024-25 edition of the Munster PPS U19AFC to 16 has reduced the need for preliminary quarter-finals. Instead, four groups of four will be whittled down to eight survivors for the knockout stage by this evening - with some recent finalists likely to be disappointed.

Holders Thurles CBS and Waterford’s De La Salle have punched their tickets for the quarter-finals, while four sides cannot qualify, but 10 schools remain in the hunt for the other six spots.

In Group 1, the hopes of 2023 winners Cashel CS ended after two games but the three remaining sides - the 2024 finalists Nenagh CBS and Ardscoil Rís, along with last year’s beaten finalists St Flannan’s College - are vying for the other two spots.

Nenagh and Flannan’s each have three points and victory for the north Tipp side against Cashel at UL will have them safe - the Flannan’s-Ardscoil game in Clarecastle is essentially knockout, though the Ennis school have the advantage in the event of a draw.

While De La Salle are through from Group 2, they are not yet assured of finishing top: a loss to Midleton CBS at Fethard Town Park would see the Cork side finish first. However, if De La Salle were to win, Midleton would be anxiously checking to see how St Colman’s College fare are against the already-eliminated CBS High School Clonmel in Bansha.

Colman’s are two points behind Midleton after defeat to De La Salle last time but a draw in the opening-round Cork derby means that scoring-difference would separate them in the event of a tie.

Thurles’s Group 3 game against Doon’s Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa at UL is a dead rubber as, whatever happens, the holders will finish top of that group with Doon bottom. It is the other game, between Blackwater CS and John The Baptist CS of Hospital in Castlelyons, that the sparks will fly: both schools are level on two points and this is to all intents and purposes a quarter-final qualifier, with Hospital having the scoring-difference advantage if it is a draw.

In Group 4, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh met Christian Brothers College a fortnight ago with neither having won their opening and victory for Gaelcholáiste ended their rivals’ hopes of advancing - however, without fully guaranteeing that ‘the AG’ will themselves progress.

Fethard Town Park is the venue at 1.45pm for their game against Our Lady’s Secondary School of Templemore, which is effectively a knockout tie, though Gaelcholáiste Mhuire do go in a point ahead.

There is a scenario where defeat might not eliminate the northside outfit but it would require CBC to beat St Joseph’s Secondary School of Tulla, who will be targeting top spot.

TODAY

TUS Dr Harty Cup Group 1: Cashel CS v Nenagh CBS, UL 4G North Campus; St Flannan’s College v Ardscoil Rís, Clarecastle, both 1.30pm.

Group 2: De La Salle Waterford v Midleton CBS, Fethard Town Park; St Colman’s College v CBS HS Clonmel, Bansha, both 12 noon.

Group 3: Thurles CBS v Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon, UL 4G North Campus, 12 noon;

Blackwater CS v John The Baptist CS Hospital, Castlelyons, 1.30pm.

Group 4: CBC Cork v St Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla, Kilmallock; Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh v Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore, Fethard Town Park, 1.45pm.