'Once you've a Harty medal you can talk to anyone about hurling'

Saturday's Munster PPS SHC decider brings together two worlds. The old and established order versus the new empire. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Greater respect from outside school walls. Greater self-respect from inside themselves. Put a Harty on the shelf and forever change how the hurling community sees you.

Saturday's Munster PPS SHC decider brings together two worlds. The old and established order versus the new empire. 

St Flannan’s College versus Nenagh CBS. 22 wins and 41 final appearances versus a single title and five final involvements.

Nenagh CBS joined the elite group headed up by today’s opponents this time two years ago. 

An Andy Hoolan goal in the third minute of injury-time - well past the allotted two minutes - delivered history and a first Harty crown.

Donach O’Donnell was the Nenagh boss two years ago. He is still at the helm. He speaks of a school and its students standing taller for all that has flowed from Hoolan’s ground stroke.

“It's very hard to describe what it does for a school when you haven't had that success before,” O’Donnell begins.

“In 2012, we got to the Harty Cup final and lost it but ended up winning the All-Ireland after. I think that experience helped us a little bit, but even since then, the Harty has moved on an awful lot, it's got more popular again, is attracting more coverage, and is nearly more prestigious.

“A lot of these young fellas are on county panels and they know their peers. They know the guys from other clubs, schools, and counties. It's really the one that you want to win. It kind of completes that set. It's up there with Munster Championships and All-Ireland Championships, it really is.

“Anthony Daly once said that if you've a Harty medal you can talk to anyone about hurling. I think that sums it up, really.” 

Three months before Nenagh’s Harty breakthrough, there was maiden U17 Dean Ryan success. 

And so ever before the class of Darragh McCarthy achieved history, there was expectation on the group coming after, the class of Eoghan Doughan, to go the distance.

Eight of the Dean Ryan side that had three to spare over St Flannan’s in the winter of 2023 featured in the Harty semi-final victory over reigning champions Thurles CBS two weeks ago.

“The fact that they had seen success at Dean Ryan level and the fact the majority of them were involved in the Harty panel two years ago, with lads like Eoghan (Doughan), Austin (Duff), and Joe (O'Dwyer) playing that day, there was always a little bit of anticipation coming into this season,” O'Donnell continued.

“They've matured an awful lot since the Dean Ryan win. Even around the school they've matured. They've turned the corner as far as their attitude around the school is concerned.

“They've developed that bit of leadership that you expect from a team like that. They are leaders around the place. The younger kids look up to them because they're on the Harty team, and there's a bit of responsibility in that. We expect them to act accordingly.

“There's very much a buy-in of being a good person and doing things right and working hard. That filters down through the years. It's a really good culture here.” 

The culture in Tipp’s underage factory is at the moment unrivalled. Nenagh are one cog in a wheel spinning seamlessly.

Minor and U20 inter-county panels are long up and running for the 2026 season. Open lines of communication between managements are of course necessary. What is being communicated, though, is the vital part. 

O’Donnell speaks of his sideline ticket and other groups working with the same bunch of teenagers being led and guided by sports science. The numbers dictate.

“Some of these lads have been flat out on the road for a year now, with no real break between U19 club championship, U21 club championship, senior club championship, schools, and county panels. So, it's very hard to manage that load and it's just really important that the players can be at their best for both. The inter-county players are almost in pre-season at the moment whereas we're in the middle of championship. It's a different level of training, a different type of training,” he explained.

“People in Tipp are looking at sports science and up-to-date data that will show what the right things are to do from a physical point of view, and also a psychological point of view because there’s a huge mental load as well.

“And again, you'd have to say the coaching has improved. There's an awful lot of data out there about how to deal with young men and how to train them properly.” 

From halfway up the main stand in Cusack Park, Nenagh winning captain and now household name Darragh McCarthy declared their Harty win to be a dream come true. Saturday at 1pm they return to the scene of the school's greatest hour.

“Please God we can make the dream come true again,” O’Donnell concluded.