The Coláiste Phobal, Ros Cré senior hurling team.
By John Harrington
When it comes to hurling rivalry, the border between Tipperary and Offaly has long been a hot zone.
The counties don’t play one another all that often in championship matches of real consequence, but when they do bragging rights are fiercely coveted.
Tipperary’s win over Offaly in the 2022 All-Ireland Minor Final and Offaly’s successful revenge mission in last year’s All-Ireland U-20 Final provided considerable grist for that mill.
History has shown though that the tribes on either side of the border can also make for potent allies when they are united under one banner, as shown once again by the presence of Coláiste Phobal, Ros Cré in tomorrow’s Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup (Senior D Hurling All-Ireland) Final.
The team is a nice mixture of hurlers from Roscrea and Moneygall on the Tipperary side of the border, and Shinrone, Ballyskenach, and Killavilla on the Offaly side.
County loyalties have been put to one side and the passionate hurling hinterland on both sides of the border is buzzing at the prospect of what will be a great day for the school and all its feeder clubs.
“It's massive,” says Coláiste Phobal team manager, William Smyth. “It's great excitement and also a great privilege. We haven't been in a final for 10 years.
“We were in the 'B' Final 10 years ago so absolutely thrilled to be back in another one and there's a great buzz around the school.
“There's great enthusiasm and interest in the game. It's just tremendous for the whole school atmosphere and the wider community.
“There's always been great tradition of hurling here since it was Roscrea Vocational School and then we amalgamated and became Coláiste Phobal roughly 25 years ago.
“We've contested a few All-Irelands up and down through the years so it’s great to be back in another one.”
Gearoid Maher, left, and Sam Dooley of Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, Tipperary, with Alex Begley and Conor Kelly, right, of Grennan College Thomastown, Kilkenny, ahead of their Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools D Hurling Final during the Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Finals Captains Call at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
If you were to pick one other thing that might unite the hurling tribes of Tipperary and Offaly other than Coláiste Phobal, Ros Cré, it would be the satisfaction they derive from getting the better of Kilkenny hurling teams.
That opportunity presents itself in tomorrow’s All-Ireland Final because their opponents Grennan College are from Thomastown in Kilkenny.
They’ll likely be very formidable foes too because seven of their team were members of the Thomastown panel that won last year’s Kilkenny senior hurling championship.
“They put up a big score in the All-Ireland semi-final and Thomastown as a club are absolutely flying it,” says Smyth.
“In the last few years they've won county intermediate and senior titles in Kilkenny so the standard has to be good there. You can be sure that has a knock-on effect in the school.
“Kilkenny teams are Kilkenny teams. We'll have to have all our ducks in a row, but we’ve got some very good hurlers too.
“You'd be hoping that you give a good account of yourself on the day and you'll be able to match them.
“It’s great for the lads to be able to experience an occasion like this but nothing beats winning and it would be tremendous to win it if we could.”
Friday, March 14
Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup (Senior D Hurling All-Ireland) Final
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré v Grennan College, Thomastown, Carlow IT, 1pm
You can watch a live stream of the match here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3WZoDiRZqc
