REACTION: 'I’m not worried about who we meet in the final,' said Nenagh CBS boss

By Michael Dundon

The clash of holders of the Munster (Dr Harty Cup) and All-Ireland titles, Thurles CBS, with county rivals and 2024 Harty winners Nenagh CBS saw Templederry’s fine facility sold out on Saturday, with a place in this year’s Harty final against St Flannan’s of Ennis the prize for the victors.

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Local rivalry is the heartbeat of sport and it added a further absorbing dimension to this encounter, which lived up to all expectations, with the Nenagh boys getting over the line courtesy of a sixty-sixth minute converted free by ace marksman Eoghan Doughan of Moneygall at the end of a thriller.

In a contest that ebbed and flowed throughout, both sides at times looked set to surge clear, only to be drawn back into the conflict.

In injury time, Jack Cahill, son of Tipp senior manager Liam Cahill, pointed a free to get Thurles back on terms and the huge gathering was savouring the prospect of extra time, but in the sixty-sixth minute Nenagh full forward Patrick Hackett was fouled and the ever-reliable Doughan split the posts from the placed ball to send his side through to the final on a 1-18 to 0-20 scoreline.

Donach O’Donnell, the Nenagh coach, who also guided them to their only previous success in the competition in 2024, was unapologetic in his admiration for his charges. “It was always going to be close.

They (Thurles) were the champions and we were champions the year before. It was very tight all the way through, but when it looked like being a draw our boys dug it out at the finish,” he said.

He added, “Our guys are so close to each other as a group. That makes a big difference and it is what wins games. Thurles set up differently to their semi-final against De La Salle and it took us some time to figure it out, but thankfully we managed to do so and got through at the finish.”

He also stressed the importance of the impact their subs bench had on the game, pointing out that this has been a feature of all their games in the campaign.

At the conclusion, and unaware of who had won the second semi-final between St Flannan’s of Ennis and Clare neighbours Tulla, when asked how he felt about potential final opponents, the Nenagh man’s reaction was to the point: “I’m not worried about who we meet in the final. Right now I’m just happy we got through.”

The disappointment in the Thurles dressing room was understandable. Some supporters were questioning the amount of injury time played. Still, manager Niall Cahill, who led them to Munster and All-Ireland honours last year, stated emphatically, “I have no issue with the time played. Sometimes it favours you, others it doesn’t - such is life,” he said.

He pointed out that through the grades over recent years, the two schools had been close rivals. “There has never been much between us. Last year we got through by a small margin, but today they got the breaks to win and deservedly so.

“I am very proud of these boys. Over their time in school they have given us some incredible years, culminating in the All-Ireland win last year. They died with their boots on here today,” he added.

So the stage is set for the final. Nenagh are seeking their second title and will be striving to extend Tipperary’s winning sequence in the competition to four in a row, while St Flannan’s top the roll of honour with twenty-two successes, their last in 2020.

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