Thurles CBS remain on All-Ireland glory trail.
By Noel Dundon
Thurles CBS did the business in the Croke Cup, All-Ireland College semi-final on Saturday, but only just. One of the most low key performances of their campaign to date still did not prove fatal against Claregalway College, but everyone associated with the school team acknowledges that a similar showing in the All-Ireland Final on St Patrick’s Day in Croke Park, will not be good enough to add to the Harty Cup in the display cabinet in the school.
Having had a month off following that Harty victory over St Flannan’s, the Thurles Cbs lads looked very rusty despite continuing their training. Their touch was off, they were nervy and jumpy and their shooting was appalling – nineteen wides in the game was just incredible.
Still though, when you break it down, they had forty shots on goal – and that does not count ones which dropped into the goalkeepers hands of which there were a few, one recalls. On other days, Thurles Cbs would probably have been out of sight by the half way mark, but you would have to give credit to Claregalway for the manner in which they hung in there, brought the challenge to the Thurles Cbs lads and made life so difficult for them from the very off.
Thurles were the better team, no question about it. But, the better team does not always necessarily win out. In this case they did without reaching their potential and they will know what needs to be done to ensure that they get the performance in the next outing.
Winning playing poorly is always a positive thing – well, it’s better than losing playing well anyway. And, you would have to hand it to the Thurles Cbs lads for the manner in which they handled the challenge of a more physically stronger and very up-for-it team.
So, on they march with the good wishes of the Premier County.
The late Seamus Mackey.
The late Seamus Mackey who passed away at the weekend was a great servant of his club Holycross Ballycahill while also achieving All-Ireland glory with Tipperary in 1965. A brilliant forward who had a magnificent eye for a score, Mackey was very highly rated and he did a marvellous job of carrying the club attack during the sixties and seventies at a time when the fortunes were waning. May he rest in peace.
Kilkenny on the horizon.
The Cats defeat at the hands of Cork in last Saturday’s Allianz National Hurling League game means that they will provide a scalding welcome for Tipperary in UPMC Nowlan Park next Sunday – was it ever any other way, I hear you say?
The Tipp boys will be primed for this game and we will see what a lot of players are made of in what is certain to be a cauldron unlike anything the newcomers will have witnessed so far. Granted, it won’t be championship fare just yet, but at this stage of the season, it will be as close to championship intensity and tempo as you will get. Therefore, Liam Cahill and his management team will be watching very carefully indeed for signs and indications as to who might be up to claiming a jersey come mid April. This is a game not to be missed – it’s only over the border, get along and cheer them on.
Footballers need to bounce back.
Having suffered a setback in the league game against London, the Tipp footballers fell heavily against Limerick in round 5 and will find it very difficult now to be in the promotion race. A ten point defeat was their lot in Rathkeale on Saturday and the trick now for Philly Ryan and his management team will be for the footballers to bounce back and consolidate their position within the group by claiming further points – not an easy task considering the games to come.
The ultimate aim is for the squad to be in fine fettle as they approach championship time and the best way for that to happen is to go through to that stage of the season with a few good performances behind them – early league form counts for little by the time championship comes around.
So, getting back to basics and showing energy, drive and flair will be on the agenda for the next few weeks as they bid to be right for the start of the championship campaign.