Dr Harty Cup: Midleton CBS carry Cork hopes into knockout stages
Tom A Walsh of Mdleton CBS contests possession against Ruairc Donovan of St Colman's College, Fermoy during the TUS Dr Harty Cup game at Lisgoold in October. Picture: Chani Anderson
Midleton CBS will look to pick up where they left off before Christmas as the TUS Dr Harty Cup knockout stages begin today.
Bansha in Tipperary is the venue as the East Cork outfit – the last remaining Cork side left in Munster’s premier second-level schools’ hurling championship – take on St Joseph’s CBS of Nenagh (throw-in 1.30pm).
Having opened their campaign with a group-stage draw against St Colman’s College of Fermoy, Midleton impressed with victories over CBS High School Clonmel and De La Salle College of Waterford to top their group.
The team jointly-managed by Brian O’Callaghan (Fr O’Neill’s) and Iain Cooney (Midleton) benefit from the presence of a number of the Munster championship-winning Cork minor team of 2025, including goalkeeper Tom C Walsh, defenders Darragh Heavin and Colm Garde, midfielder Tom A Walsh and attackers Cormac Deane and Sam Ring.
While Garde missed the Cork derby against Colman’s at Lisgoold that opened Group 2, Tom A Walsh excelled at centre-back in a game that ebbed and flowed. An excellent Colman’s performance put them in a great position as they led by 0-17 to 0-13 but, backed by Fionn Daly’s superb dead-ball accuracy, Midleton came with a late surge and looked to have done enough for the win before Cormac Barry’s late free for Colman’s ensured a 0-19 each draw.
Thankfully for Midleton, any disappointment was channelled positively as two Deane goals and one from Jude Devoy helped them to a 3-15 to 0-20 victory over Clonmel in Cappoquin.
They still went into the last match at Fethard Town Park trailing De La Salle by a point but 1-6 from Daly helped them to a 2-14 to 0-12 victory, with Ring also finding the net.
The make-up of the group going into that final set of fixtures meant that the only way St Colman’s could have advanced would have been at the expense of Midleton; their win over Clonmel left them in third place.
The only other section to feature Cork schools was Group 4 but, unfortunately, neither Gaelcholáiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh or Christian Brothers College were able to secure qualification.
The sole Cork representatives left in the Harty are joined by three schools from Tipperary and two each from Clare and Waterford. None of the three Limerick sides in the competition – reduced this year from 21 schools to 16 – made it out of their groups.
The winners of the Midleton-Nenagh tie will be in semi-final action on Saturday week, January 17, against either Thurles CBS – the holders of the competition – or De La Salle, who clash in Castlelyons today.
The other last-eight clash this lunchtime is between Tulla’s St Joseph’s Secondary School and Blackwater CS of Lismore, with Kilmallock the venue. The victorious side there will advance to meet either record winners St Flannan’s College of Ennis or Our Lady’s Secondary School from Templemore – that tie is down for decision on Friday at TUS Moylish.
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