Hurling
ROLL OF HONOUR
1 All-Ireland Colleges Senior A Hurling title (2009)
7 Harty Cups
12 Dean Ryan Cups,
5 White Cups,
1 Frewen Cup
Dr Harty Cup Champions 2009 and All Ireland Champions 2009
Not since the heady days, when the legendary Jimmy Doyle was a boy, had Thurles CBS tasted success in the Dr Harty Cup, but the 2008 beaten finalists landed the title for the first time since 1956 at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh in 2009. Yes, The Dr Harty Cup was back in Tipperary. The triumphant heroes Thurles CBS brought the cup back to their school, thanks to a 3-16 to 0-09 victory over St Caimin’s Community School from Shannon.
Thurles CBS beat the North Monastery from Cork in 1956 to last win this much coveted trophy, but the victory in 2009 was extra special, coming as it did after such a long wait.
Kieran Morris celebrates scoring his side's last point in injury time in the All-Ireland Colleges Senior A Hurling Final against Good Counsel College in Semple Stadium.
With the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half, Thurles CBS led by an amazing 2-11 to 0-02 at the half-time break thanks to goals by Michael O’Brien and David Butler. St Caimins added 7 more points to their tally in the second-half but couldn’t catch an inspired Thurles. Victory was sealed with a late goal by Aidan McCormack from Thurles CBS.
With the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half, Thurles CBS led by an amazing 2-11 to 0-02 at the half-time break thanks to goals by Michael O’Brien and David Butler. St Caimins added 7 more points to their tally in the second-half but couldn’t catch an inspired Thurles. Victory was sealed with a late goal by Aidan McCormack from Thurles CBS.
All-Ireland Colleges Senior A Hurling and Munster Senior A Dr Harty Cup Winners 2009
Many of the players from the 1956 team, including their team captain, Tommy Gleeson, were present to witness their beloved school win back the Harty Cup. Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly and GAA patron, was on hand to present the coveted cup at full-time to CBS team Captain James Barry. For all at Thurles CBS, it was an emotional day, not to mention a historic day for Thurles town.
DID YOU KNOW?
Newspaper reports of the time suggest that at least one of our past pupils, Michael Cantwell, was present in Hayes Hotel at the foundation meeting to form the GAA on November 1st 1884.
Semple Stadium is named in honour of Tom Semple who attended the school.
In the 2009 All-Star team, three were selected who had played with the school in recent years – PJ Ryan, Padraic Maher and Lar Corbett.
Dr Thomas Morris DD, the late Archbishop of Cashel and Emly and former patron of the GAA, spent his formative years in CBS Thurles.
Billy Quinn who played Harty Cup in the early 50s, is father of Niall Quinn (Dublin Hurler and International Soccer player).
Jimmy Doyle, a past pupil and Harty Cup winner in 1956, was selected on the An Post Team of the Millennium.
In between their Harty Cup victories in 1956 and 2009, Thurles CBS lost 6 finals, most recently in 2005 and 2008. They also lost semi-finals in 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2007. That’s a lot of heartache!
Rice Cup (May 2011)
The Rice Cup panel suffered some hard luck last Thursday week when they were narrowly defeated by Ard Scoil Ris in the quarter-final of the competition which was played in Nenagh in ideal conditions. Ard Scoil began the game brightly and several well converted frees sent them in to an early lead. Despite Thurles paying the price for some over eager tackling they managed to claw their way back into the game thanks to some good scores from Sean Moloney, Rory Purcell and Jack Skehan. However, Thurles were dealt a major blow just before half time when star player, Eric Fanning, was forced off through injury. At half time the game was delicately poised with Ard Scoil on just the right side of a six points to four scoreline.
Despite a goal from Jamie Curtis in the second half, Thurles were unable to get back on level terms and ended up losing by the narrowest of margins. The final score was Ard Scoil; 0-09, Thurles; 1-05. Although the team were bitterly disappointed by the result, there were many positives to be taken from the game, including fine performances from Cathal Moloney, Sean Moloney, Dylan Quirke, Jack Darby, Mikey Connors and Loughlin Ryan, to name but a few.
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