Dr Harty Cup: Gaelcholáiste Mhuire manager Tomás Ó Mainnín hails 'character and spirit' after derby win

The two points on offer meant that Wednesday's TUS Dr Harty Cup Group 4 game carried heavy stakes regardless of any other context, but the local-derby element ensured that there was an extra edge.

Given that neither side had won their opening matches, the clash between Gaelcoláiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh and Christian Brothers College was essentially must-win and that was reflected in the tense nature. At times, matters threatened to spill over but sensible refereeing by Cathal McAllister ensured that control was kept without any loss in physicality. 

At the end of just over an hour of exciting hurling, it was Gaelcholáiste Mhuire still standing, winners by 2-21 to 2-19, a result that ended their rivals' chances of progressing to the knockout stages. Naturally, the manager of 'the AG', Tomás Ó Mainnín was delighted that his side managed to effect the same outcome as last spring's O'Callaghan Cup final against CBC, though they had to work for it.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” he said.

“It was a huge game for our crew of sixth years. They're fantastic characters, great guys - I think we were seven or eight points down in the first half early on, and just the character and spirit, the two words we always speak about.

“They showed it in abundance; they showed great, great character.”

In a game like this, high intensity is a prerequisite but care must be taken to ensured that that is channelled properly. The AG had drawn with St Joseph's Secondary School of Tulla in their first outing while CBC had lost to Our Lady's of Templemore, making the game all-but-knockout.

Ó Mainnín agreed that it was important to bring a controlled aggression.

“It is,” he said, “it's using that energy in the right way.

“We put a big emphasis on it being a big game for the northside. I know it's a northside derby, but we have 37, 38 northsiders on the sideline - Vincent's, Piarsaigh, Glen men - and it just means so much to them.

“They train so hard and I'm just really, really proud of the players. They put in an incredible effort.”

Éanna Ó Deasúnaigh, part of the AG's management team alongside Ó Mainnín, felt that the O'Callaghan victory served to imbue the players with belief when Wednesday's game needed to be won.

“It's a huge benefit to us,” he said.

“Silverware was a big goal for us last year and winning the O'Callaghan Cup - I think it was after the first time in 34, 36 years or something - that really stood to us, so we kind of recessed, took stock.

“We were disappointed with our result against Tulla - we were six up and that draw felt like a loss, so we just knew this was a straight knockout game.

“We knew CBC were going to bring it; they've a star-studded team. We knew we had to be on our A-game and we were. We dug it out well.”

At the same time, the AG are still likely to need a result against Templemore, who lost to a Tulla side that will now be taking on a CBC team that can no longer qualify. Re-focusing is important.

“A hundred percent," Ó Deasúnaigh said.

“We have Templemore now in two weeks and I was really, really impressed with them from watching them against CBC.

“So we'll have to just reset, regroup, take our few learnings, look at the video and we'll just have to improve for the next day again, because Templemore are an extremely good side.

“But listen, we'll enjoy this too. It was a great day for us and it's a great day for northside hurling as well.”