Dr Harty Cup: Five Cork schools in action on opening day
Ben Walsh of Midleton CBS. Picture: Larry Cummins
Five of the seven Cork schools in the TUS Dr Harty Cup will be in action as the competition commences today.
A total of 21 institutions are involve this year’s Harty, spread across six groups, four featuring four teams and four comprising three. Four group winners will progress directly to the quarter-finals, with the other two table-toppers and the six runners-up contesting four preliminary quarter-finals to determine the remainder of the last eight.
Last year, Charleville CBS were the only Cork school to make the semi-finals, losing out to eventual champions Nenagh CBS, and they begin their Group 3 campaign against the 2022 winners, Cashel CS, in Ballyporeen (1.30pm).
Chris Dunne and Seán Bresnan are two survivors from last year who are again likely to be important figures, while Ben Jordan-Reidy could prove to be a valuable addition.
The other game in that section sees Blackwater CS face St Joseph’s of Tulla in Kilmallock.
In Group 5, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh clash with Waterford’s De La Salle, with Fraher Field in Dungarvan the venue.
Last year, ‘the AG’ beat the defending champions Cashel in their opener but were unlucky to lose out on a knockout spot on scoring difference. Jamie Hegarty and Darragh O’Connell (both Whitechurch), Na Piarsaigh’s Conor Meaney and Glen Rovers goalkeeper Josh Goulding will all be central to the northsiders’ hopes. That group features three teams, with St Colman’s College of Fermoy the other side involved.
The other northside school in the Harty, Christian Brothers College are in the four-team Group 1 and their opening assignment is against Doon’s Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa.
Christians can call upon Sarsfields duo Jack Huggins and Rory Higgins, St Finbarr’s players Conor McCarthy and James Murray, Glen Rovers’ Michael Tadhg Brosnan and Ballinora’s Ben Mayer.
Also in that group, Rice College Ennis take on John The Baptist CS of Hospital, with Meelick the venue.
Seán Treacy Park in Tipperary town is the site for Coláiste Choilm’s opener against Our Lady’s Secondary School of Templemore, a game which has a 2.30pm throw-in.
Eoin Dwyer (Ballincollig) and Niall Buckley (Inniscarra) are the joint captains of the Ballincollig school, who are looking to build on last year’s encouraging opening campaign. Jack Murphy and Cian Ahern (both Ballincollig) and Inniscarra’s Alan Heelan other key performers. Limerick rivals Ardscoil Rís and Castletroy College are also in that group; they clash in Claughaun.
In Group 4, Midleton CBS face the holders Nenagh CBS in Ballyagran. Ben Walsh of Killeagh, who was on the Cork U20 team this year, is a totemic figure for Midleton while his clubmate Fionn Murphy keeps goal, having been between the sticks for the Cork minors in 2023. Cloyne's Adam Lee was a county minor in 2024 and possesses a strong scoring threat. Rochestown’s St Francis College are the other side in that section,
The three-team Group 6 doesn’t have a Cork presence – Thurles CBS take on St Flannan’s College today while Tralee CBS await their bow.
Rice College Ennis v John The Baptist CS Hospital, Meelick; CBC Cork v Scoil na Tríonóide Doon.
Ardcoil Rís v Castletroy College, Claughaun; Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore v Coláiste Choilm, Seán Treacy Park (2.30pm).
Charleville CBS v Cashel CS, Ballyporeen; Blackwater CS v St Joseph’s Tulla, Kilmallock.
Nenagh CBS v Midleton CBS, Ballyagran.
De La Salle Waterford v Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thauidh, Fraher Field.
Thurles CBS v St Flannan’s College.
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