Brendan Bugler on Harty Cup challenge: 'Any pressure that comes with wearing a Flannan's jersey should be deemed a privilege'

The famed Clare nursery will look to add another Harty Cup title to their record-breaking tally. 

THE PRIZE: The famed Dr. Harty Cup on show before the decider. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

The St Flannan’s panel is 40-strong. They have the numbers to carry 25 more. But, as Brendan Bugler pertinently pointed out, attempting to conduct a training session of 65 students wouldn’t be at all practical or prudent.

The above numbers are not presented to illustrate depth. The numbers are presented to illustrate demand and the desire to be part of the school’s Harty dressing-room.

St Flannan’s field two first-year teams. They have the numbers and the interest to also field two teams at U17 and senior level. Demand and interest sustains right the way through. There is no drop-off.

Before the school doors ever re-opened last August, Bugler and his Harty management team had been out and about occupying grassy banks and studying the students who’d shortly be vying for a seat on the bus.

“We are working off a panel of 40. We could have more, but you have to draw the line at some place. You can't, unfortunately, carry 65 lads,” the 2013 All-Ireland winning Clare hurler began.

“From early August on, as a management team, you are going around to a lot of club games. You had the minor championship kicking off and then you've obviously lads playing adult hurling as well. The U20 championship is thrown in there too. You are keeping an eye on all of them.

“A lot of players are on trial with their clubs. If they are performing with their clubs during that time, they are going to be given a shot with us. But we have to draw the line at some place.” In his own student days, Bugler hurled Harty with Scariff Community College. They were not a business-end school similar to that which he now heads up. He joined the Flannan’s staff room in 2015. The strength of hurling’s imprint inside the school walls in no way surprised him.

The famed Ennis nursery heads the Harty roll of honour with 22 wins. It’s a tradition they don’t shy away from with the current group. This is their history and heritage. Why hide from it?

“There is a fine line,” replied Bugler when asked about embracing St Flannans' silverware-laden past.

“You don't want to put pressure on them either, but we'd always say that any pressure that comes with wearing a Flannan's jersey should be deemed a privilege.

“That's a mindset thing. We are not shy in mentioning the fact that they are representing a jersey that has had success down through the years. But at the same time, it is their team, it is their group, and you want to hammer home that, as well.” 

Their roll of honour count is not clicking as frequently as was once the case. There’s only been one title over the past 21 years.

The Harty landscape has changed immeasurably in that time. New forces have emerged and endured. Ardscoil Rís won their first in 2010. They’d add four more before the decade was out. Flannan’s semi-final conquests, St Joseph’s Tulla, tasted maiden glory in 2022.

Final opponents, Nenagh CBS, are the most recent-first time winners. They’re now hunting a second in three years and an unprecedented four-in-a-row of Tipp schools holding aloft the main prize. That Premier dominance has run in tandem with the county's near takeover of minor and U20 inter-county matters.

Clare, while not accumulating underage silverware to the same extent in recent years, have been ever prominent of late. The Banner have been in three of the last four Munster minor finals and two of the last three All-Ireland minor deciders. They’ve also reached two of the last three Munster U20 finals.

The link is obvious. The link is imperative. This month's all-Tipp and all-Clare Harty semi-finals pointed to two counties with their respective ground floors in order.

“Winning breeds confidence. Clare have been extremely successful at minor level the last couple of years. Gone are the days of the 10-point-plus beatings. We are really competitive at minor and U20. When players have the confidence that they are able to compete with guys from other counties, it obviously is going to help us in the school,” Bugler continued.

Nenagh were their first-round opponents. Flannan’s came from 10 back to rescue a draw. They are now their final opponents.

Last season, Thurles CBS and Flannan’s drew on the opening day. Thurles edged Flannan’s on the final day.

Bugler’s class want no repeat of this trend.

“It would be a dream come true for these guys to win. They have worked really, really hard to put themselves in the position where they are 60 minutes from achieving something that is really special. We just hope we can put together a 60-minute performance for the first time this year and give ourselves a real opportunity.”