Colaiste Mhuire create history with epic Munster Schools hurling final win

TUS Munster PPS U17C Hurling Championship Final

Colaister Mhuire Thurles 1-19

Hazelwood College Dromcollogher 2-15

By Killian Houlihan

Colaiste Mhuire Thurles completed a historic triumph over Hazelwood College Dromcollogher in the Munster U17 TUS Corn an Darra Uí Dhonabháin Finallist Wednesday at UL North Campus 3G Pitch.

In what was an extremely tight encounter throughout, it was a late free from the ice-cold veins of Tony Maher which was the difference in the end, with the Holycross Ballycahill player showing real steel to hold his nerve and fire over the winning score deep in injury time to secure the famous win for the Thurles school.

Initially, both teams opened the bout strongly, exchanging hard-fought encounters. The playing field seemed evenly matched until Thurles took control of the second quarter.

It was evident from the get-go that Holycross Ballycahill’s deadly duo of Tony Maher, leading the attack, and Cathal O’Reilly, orchestrating the defensive unit, were catalysts for the Thurles side.

Just on the cusp of half-time Thurles were in charge by a single point and seemed the more dominant team, although Dromcollogher weren’t ready to roll over, showing their want almost instantly firing over a flurry of points in quick succession, earning as high as a five-point lead approaching the latter stages of the game.

With time wearing thin, Thurles battled on, key players Dylan Cotter, Calum Byrnes, and Darragh Patterson rallying to combine for crucial scores making the tallies even.

Then on the breath of the final whistle, Tony Maher stepped up to convert a free to see the proud Tipperary men victorious. The school has seen a surge of performance in their Hurling department in recent years now competing in the B grade.

An excellent coaching setup will surely aid in attracting quality hurlers and see the school flourish in years to come.

Colaiste Mhuire Thurles: Gavin Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore); Robert Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-2), Alex Maher (Holycross Ballycahill); Kaelem Maher (Clonoulty Rossmore), Cillian Doran (Moycarkey Borris), Sean Lyons (Moyne Templetuohy); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels, 0-2), Jake Galvin (Holycross Ballycahill); Shay Carroll (Clonoulty Rossmore), Tony Maher (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-10, 0-7f), Jack Reddan (Moyne Templetuohy, 0-1); Darragh Patterson (Moycarkey Borris, 1-1), Sean Moynihan (Boherlahen Dualla), Calum Byrnes (Cashel King Cormacs, 0-3).