EDITORIAL: 'A match for the ages in arguably the greatest hurling venue in the country'
This week's editorial in the Tipp Star and Nationalist
By the time February 8 rolls around, the Harty Cup competition could well have featured on the front of every edition of The Nationalist for four whole weeks.
The first was on January 19 when Cashel Community School and Thurles CBS both reached the semi-final of the schools hurling competition.
The second, on January 26 when both the Cashel and Thurles schools won their semi-finals and set up the first all-Tipperary decider in the 106-year history of the competition.
The third consecutive time the competition featured on the front page was when the fixture for the final was decided for February 5 on the hallowed ground of Semple Stadium. No better place for such an historic event.
This prompted The Nationalist and Tipperary Star to produce a special edition this week, a souvenir edition of sorts boasting a 12-page pull-out with the best of analysis, interviews and previews written by the sports team in both titles.
As Stephen Gleeson writes on page 46, he says: “So, the Gladiators prepare to go to the arena...Tipp hurling will be all the stronger from having two teams contest the final and both teams will progress on to the All-Ireland stage of the competition regardless of the result. Who knows, they could meet again in the All Ireland final!”
It’s been three weeks in The Nationalist of Harty Cup stories on the front of this paper. And there could be one more, next week, if Cashel Community School can overcome favourites Thurles CBS.
It’s a David versus Goliath match-up and we’ve got all the build-up you need inside this week’s paper.
This will be a match for the ages in arguably the greatest hurling venue in the country. Can Cashel Community School win the Harty Cup for the first time ever?
This week’s special supplement might have some insights into the answer to that question, but it’s up to those brave boys who will take the field this Sunday in Semple to give us the answer.
Whatever the outcome boys, you’re already heroes!