Eoin Brennan previews the All-Ireland secondary schools action this weekend with Ennistymon CBS and St Joseph’s Tulla looking to advance to the finals
It’s All-Ireland Semi-Finals week in the senior post-primary schools competitions, with CBS Ennistymon leading the way with a commanding Senior C Football victory on Tuesday afternoon in the state-of-the-art Air Dome in Bekan.
However, there’s wasn’t much time to soak up the unique atmosphere in the dome as once the final whistle went, the management team of Tara Rynne, Jason Daffy and Michael Clohessy were already plotting the hurling equivalent, once more against Ulster opposition in Dublin this Saturday.
“We’re thrilled to be in an All-Ireland Final with this great bunch of players,” admitted Tara Rynne immediately afterwards.
“I suppose we have a lot done between hurling and football in the last few weeks but have more to do.
“There’s not much of a break until the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final on Saturday so hopefully the momentum stays behind us as it has been huge for us so far.
“Even before coming up to the dome, people would have said that we’re in bonus territory following the Munster double. But all that was in our mind was that we wanted to win and take this journey as far as we can and therefore it will be the same story on Saturday. The job is only half done still.”
Standing in CBS Ennistymon’s way of an All-Ireland senior C double final appearance are St Malachy’s College in Belfast who after bridging a 63 year gap to their last Ulster Senior B Hurling crown, will be intent on breaking further ground on Saturday.
It could essentially come down to which side can hit the ground running, with CBS Ennistymon carrying the momentum but have only have five days to recover whereas it’s almost three months since St Malachy’s last competitive game.
Meanwhile in the prestigious All-Ireland Senior A Hurling Championship, it’s a Munster v Leinster double on Saturday as Harty Cup champions St Joseph’s Tulla resume with a tie against Croke Cup roll of honours leaders St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny).
A rejuvenated Ardscoil Rís, fresh from Monday’s quarter-final triumph over Connacht champions Presentation Athenry, take on Leinster equivalents Good Counsel of Wexford.
Having initially exited at the Leinster semi-final stage, St Kieran’s are currently fuelled by the same redemptive energy that opponents Tulla experienced in Round 2 of their historic provincial series.
Letting slip a seven-point second-half advantage, the 56 times Leinster Senior A champions were pipped at the post by Dublin South Schools that due to being an amalgamation, were unable to take part in the All-Ireland series.
That opened the door for a third placed play-off derby between St Kieran’s and CBS Kilkenny that was followed up by a quarter-final triumph over Gort last time out.
With back-to-back victories under their belts, a revived St Kieran’s, backed by the talent of 18 different clubs, are a dangerous opponent for St Joseph’s Tulla who have to put the historic Harty heights behind them and rediscover the rawness that got them to that lofty perch in the first place.
The same goes for Leinster champions Good Counsel of New Ross who following a first provincial crown in 13 years, need to be prepared to be met head on by a scorned Ardscoil Rís who took out all their initial frustrations on Pres Athenry in front of a healthy attendance in Dangan on Monday evening.
If you can’t make it to Tipperary for either match on Saturday, both are being streamed on the YouTube Spórt TG4 channel from 12.55pm