Coláiste Éinde manager, David Tierney, pictured with players Cian Corcoran, left, and Cian Cloherty, right.
By John Harrington
Coláiste Éinde in Salthill Galway has a proud history of being a very ecumenical sporting school where students are encouraged to play a variety of team sports.
They broke new ground on the Gaelic games front by reaching Saturday’s Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup Final, and their team is stacked with players who also excel in other sporting codes.
That can sometimes make it difficult to attain success on the hurling pitch, but this year they seem to have gotten the balance right.
They're managed by school-teacher and former Galway hurler, David Tierney. He's been coached hurling teams in the school for over 20 years and now the retired Tom Fox put in an even longer stint, so reaching an All-Ireland Final for the first time has been a hugely satisfying achievement.
A group of talented players has come together, put their shoulder to the wheel, and been rewarded for their work ethic.
"What happens in the Galway city is because it's short a secondary school or two there’s a lotto system to decide what school you go to," says Tierney.
"When I was in school we were in Loughrea and you went to the Tech or Raphaels and it was hurling, hurling, hurling. But in Galway because there's a lotto system to get into the schools there’s no guarantee in any given year that you’ll have a group who are very interested in hurling.
“We tend to get a good team every five or six years and then you might have a lean year or two.
“And the lads that are usually interested in hurling would also be into other sports as well so a good few of the lads on this hurling team would play soccer, Gaelic football and rugby as well.
“Rugby has taken off a bit in the last few years. Connacht would have a few lads coming in and doing a bit of coaching.
“But this group of lads really do love their hurling and have really put a lot of work in. There’s a real buzz in the school coming up to this Final and we’ve gotten great support from the school management.”
The Coláiste Éinde U-19 hurlers.
This Coláiste Éinde team has some powerful forwards like Jason Carr, Cian Corcoran, and the strapping Walsh brothers Bryan and Dara. They play a direct brand of hurling to good effect, as evidenced by the six goals they scored in the All-Ireland semi-final against Dean Maguirc of Carrickmore.
They don’t lack for character either. That match looked likeit was getting away from them when they trailed by five points late in the game, but they finished with a flourish to clinch their place in Saturday’s All-Ireland Final against St. Mary’s, Newport.
“They always show up, and, in fairness to them, they've been grinding out results," says Tierney. "We have gone ahead in a lot of games and then maybe through fitness or through not keeping the foot on the throat, so to speak, we sometimes ease off and then teams come back at us.
“The last day we were down four or five points with four or five minutes to go and we scored 1-4 to win it which was very positive.
“We made plenty of mistakes too, so we're not the finished article, but the lads have a great attitude, in fairness to them.
“When we did get momentum and got going and started winning games they started training hard and cranked it up a bit. There's a good cohort of lads there.
“We’re looking forward to the All-Ireland Final and trying to keep distractions to a minimum. When opportunities like these come along, you have to grasp them.”
Saturday, March 16
Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup Final
St Mary’s Newport v Coláiste Éinde, Tulla, Clare, 12pm
Tickets for the match can be purchased HERE.
