Harty Cup: 'One to remember' as Nenagh dethrone Thurles in classic

The Tipp sides put on a fine display of winter hurling in the last-four on Saturday.

Eoghan Doughan, St Joseph's CBS Nenagh clearing the ball on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Nenagh CBS 1-18 Thurles CBS 0-20 

Sold out two days beforehand, those lucky enough to have secured one of the two thousand or so tickets to attend this Dr Harty Cup semi-final in Templederry on Saturday between the last two winners weren’t disappointed.

The vast majority were there around an hour before throw-in, keen to get a decent perch in the picturesque Fr Kenyon Park as Nenagh CBS and Thurles CBS, loaded with Tipperary All-Ireland minor and under 20 winners from the last two years, went head to head.

And it was the 2024 winners Nenagh CBS who edged it with captain Eoghan Doughan’s 66th-minute free deciding it. With no fourth official's board, no one knew how much added time referee Joe Mullins was going to play, many would have welcomed extra time, and the game not to be decided on a controversial call. In the end, the decisive free was conclusive, Nenagh’s magnet of a full forward Patrick Hackett winning possession and drawing the foul which led to Doughan converting his sixth free, bringing his final tally to twelve.

“And he even could have gotten a couple of more frees,” added Nenagh manager Donach O’Donnell of Hackett’s influence, despite being frustrated at not being able to get the ball to him more often.

O’Donnell has been involved in two of the school’s biggest days, the 2012 All-Ireland victory and the first ever Harty Cup success two years ago, and he admitted this victory is one that will stand up there.

“These are the ones that you will remember,” he added. “They were champions last year and we were champions two years ago so we knew there was never going to be anything in it, and the way the game panned out it was very much like that.

“The standard of hurling, the touches, the flicks for winter conditions is phenomenal. The skill standard is through the roof, from both sets of players.” 

Eanna Tucker’s 20th-minute goal was ultimately the difference between the sides as Nenagh carried the greater goal threat, as Thurles lost their Harty and All-Ireland titles with honour.

“That is what Harty Cup is about. It is why lads go to Nenagh CBS and Thurles CBS, they want to hurl at the very top level,” said Thurles manager Niall Cahill on the high quality contest.

“We have eight lads on the Tipp under 20 panel, they have eight lads on the Tipp under 20 panel, and there is any amount of lads hurling at a really high level. That is where they want to be, and to be tested.

“Unfortunately, our lads will have to go lick their wounds after today and the Nenagh boys go on and will hopefully do their bit.” 

Scorers for Nenagh CBS: E Doughan 0-12 (6 frees, 1 ’65); E Tucker 1-0; P Hackett 0-2; P McCormack (free), B O’Brien, P Cahalan, H Healy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Thurles CBS: J Cahill 0-5 (2 frees, 2 s-cuts); C Minogue 0-4 frees; Tony Ryan, Tiarnan Ryan 0-3 each; E Hickey, R Bargary, E Murray, C Dunne, J Butler 0-1 each.

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh: P McCormack (Moneygall); D Fogarty (Kiladangan), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), C Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Jones (Nenagh Eire Og), D O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), J Grace (Burgess); P Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), A Duff (Toomevara); B O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og), E Doughan (Moneygall, Capt), P Cahalan (Burgess); J O’Dwyer (Burgess), P Hackett (Toomevara), E Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og).

Subs: H Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Jones (HT); R McGrath (Kiladangan) for Cahalan (45); L McKeogh (Ballina) for O’Dwyer (48); T Boland (Kiladangan) for Tucker (60).

Thurles CBS: R Crosse (Boherlahan-Dualla); B Fogarty (Thurles Sarsfields), T Corbett (Upperchurch/Drombane), D Hickey (Emeralds); D Barry (Fethard), R Bargary (Boherlahan-Dualla), S Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane); E Murray (Durlas Og, Capt), J Cahill (Ballingarry); J Butler (Sean Treacys), Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Tony Ryan (Killenaule); C Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), C Minogue (Thurles Sarsfields), E Hickey (Holycross/Ballycahill).

Subs: C Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Dunne (46); Z O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Hickey (48).

Referee: J Mullins (Clare).