Schools Tipp’s future working a real treat as Harty stays local; league wins prove vital; Late Late forgot hurling?
It is a rare enough moment when anything – or anyone – dislodges the Tipperary senior hurlers from their familiar place of honour in THE VIEW column. But this was one of those special occasions when the spotlight simply had to be shared. The outstanding achievements of Nenagh CBS and St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh in the post-primary ranks deserve centre stage, with both schools crowned Munster champions after a memorable and uplifting week for Tipperary hurling.
Nenagh CBS once again etched their name into the history books, claiming a second Harty Cup title in three years – and doing it the hard way. Their gripping showdown with St Flannan’s of Ennis had everything you could ask for, not least the added challenge of heading deep into enemy territory. Ennis is never an easy venue for visiting teams, as Tipperary sides know all too well, but the Nenagh boys embraced the challenge and rose to it magnificently.
Led by a sparkling scoring display from Eoghan Doughan, they produced a performance built on resilience, unshakeable self-belief and an appetite for the contest that simply could not be matched. It was a triumph forged in character as much as in skill.
This has already been a remarkable journey for the Nenagh CBS players, yet it feels very much like a story still being written. With the quality they possess, the way they are set up, and the mental strength they have shown, they have every reason to believe they can follow in the footsteps of Thurles CBS – the side they dethroned at semi-final stage – by going on to lift the All-Ireland Croke Cup.
Keeping that coveted title in Tipperary, even if it only travels from mid to north, would be a truly magnificent achievement. Another All-Ireland success for the county before the end of March would be something very special indeed, and this Nenagh team looks well equipped to make it happen.
St Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh also had to dig deep to secure their Munster title, edging out CBS Dungarvan in a tense and dramatic C Division final at Fethard Town Park. Cathal Kennedy’s early goal in the eighth minute proved crucial, helping Borrisoleigh stay in close contact with a Dungarvan side that held a slender 0-14 to 1-09 lead at the break. The introduction of Eoghan Anderson after half-time proved inspired, with the super sub rattling the net just five minutes into the second half to swing momentum in Borris’ favour.
Anderson continued to make his presence felt as the contest ebbed and flowed, though the drama was far from over. A late Dungarvan goal from a 21-yard free in injury time narrowed the margin to a single point, but it would be the final act of the game. When the whistle sounded, it was the Tipp lads who emerged, deservedly clutching the silverware.
These two Munster crowns, secured largely by players from the northern reaches of the county, offer yet another encouraging sign of the depth and strength of underage hurling in Tipperary. Schools continue to play a vital role in nurturing and developing young talent, and when you add in the recent footballing exploits of the High School in Clonmel, it is clear that both codes are being cared for and cultivated with real purpose.
While success on the scoreboard is always welcome and gives everyone a lift, the truest measure of achievement at schools level lies in participation. None of this happens without the dedication, passion and generosity of teaching staff who commit countless hours to coaching and organising games at both primary and secondary level.
Any lapse in schools coaching is quickly and painfully felt across parishes, divisions and the county as a whole. In an ever-changing society, Tipperary is fortunate that the vast majority of schools keep their doors open to games, welcome internal and external coaching, and continue to foster strong participation in our national games. Long may that continue.
Unbeaten league streak continues for Tipp.
Winning both the hurling and football Allianz National League ties at the weekend means that Tipperary’s unbeaten sequence remains in both. The hurlers put away Offaly with relative ease in Tullamore in a game which will be best remembered for Jason Forde’s big haul of 3-10 out of the 5-24 tally.
Meanwhile, the footballers entertained Antrim in Moneygall and sent the Glensmen packing as they recorded their first win of the campaign, having secured a point in Ruislip in the first round – a big boost to the players and management.
So, all of this means that Tipp go to Cork for the hurling next Saturday evening hoping to maintain their perfect record while the footballers wait an extra week for their game against Carlow. The league is all about giving players game-time; getting them used to playing with each other; and ultimately being ready for the championship campaigns. With all this in mind, it would appear that Tipperary are getting much from the campaigns right now. But, it is early days yet and anything can happen. So far, so good though.
Listless Late Late lacked.
While it is tremendous to see the GAA and our national games being featured on the flagship Late Late Show on Friday evening last, the show was predictably disappointing. And, judging by the major social media storm which ensued, a lot of people agree with THE VIEW that it was a one-sided, unbalanced and utterly uninspiring and deflating programme.
Is hurling still part of the GAA? Maybe the rumblings of establishing a separate hurling Association might not be such a bad idea after all, I hear you say. Let’s leave that debate aside for now, but suffice to say that Friday’s Late Late Show did nothing to restore any faith in what was once a must-see programme. As a show it seems to have lost its way and does not know whether it falls into light entertainment, comedy, serious TV or a mixture of everything.
One thing it certainly is not, is a sports programme. On the up-side, at least it was slightly more watchable than some of the drivel it produces – the up-coming Valentine’s segment will be another cringe-fest no doubt. Thank God for RTE Player and all those stored games.