Harty Cup format ensures Midleton CBS must beat Rochestown

The Harty Cup returns today for the final round of group stage action, as Munster’s second level hurling competition continues to see who will seal a knockout spot. Must win games across the board.

One of those teams needing a win is Midleton CBS, who face St Francis College Rochestown. After a quarter-final exit last year and left with the feeling they could have achieved more, they need a result today.

The shake up in the squad that Harty teams endure every few years meant Midleton lost 11 players from last year’s squad and were drawn into a three team group for this season. Their opening day performance and result against reigning champions Nenagh CBS left Iain Cooney and the rest of the management team with mixed feelings.

“I suppose you’re heading into the unknown in the first game,” mentor Iain Cooney begins. “I suppose you don’t have much done with all the club activity going on. We were happy enough with the result, could have won it could have lost it.

I think a draw was a fair enough result at the end of the day.

“They went on then and they beat Rochestown fairly well two weeks ago, but we’re under no illusions going into the game.

“Rochestown are a good team,” he says. “They had a couple of lads sent off and it’s very hard to come back from that. We’re preparing as best we can, we know we’re going to be in for a tough match.” “We’re not looking past Wednesday. We can’t, it’s do or die.

We’ve great lads in there, they’re good – they’re working hard and they’re coming together as a team. If we win, there’s so many games we [still] have to get through so we’re not looking past Wednesday.” 

While at the moment Midleton CBS have an exceptionally strong squad on paper – the challenge for any Harty team every year is to get the best out of that resources. That isn’t always easy.

Especially when the schedule is as busy as it’s been over the last several weeks.

“It’s kind of where we’re at really, trying to balance. East Cork U21 is still going on and has to go to county, Fr O’Neill’s are in the Junior B final, Killeagh went on to the county semi-final of Junior A, Midleton are still in the U21.

“Then you’ve lads involved in Cork panels then as well,” Cooney explains. “Between U20s and minors on trials at the moment, you get limited access to players when you’re trying to get time with them, while also being conscious that they’re trying to study as well.

“I just think you have to be flexible with guys and that’s key.” That flexibility comes down to how Midleton CBS approach the Harty Cup, a management team from within – year after year.

“You have to manage them separately while trying to get them together as a group and build that team spirit and a bond between a new group again.

“We’re doing it [managmenet] a while, and you just try your best to get the balance right every time,” he remarks. “In terms of the school at the moment, there is a great buzz around the school, lads love playing for the school.

It’s a big pull to Midleton CBS, and the reason there’s such a pull is because the lads know what work goes in.

“Especially then for the young fellas in first year coming into the school, they’re looking up to lads, the Dean Ryan lads winning to get into the final, and then on top of it the games are becoming more readily available with Clubber and things like that. It’s great for the competition.”