*St Flannan’s College defender James Cullinan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
BOTH GAA clubs in Ruan and Clarecastle have a long and storied history, over many years they have played key roles, both on the playing pitch and at administrative level in Clare GAA.
Two of the brightest young hurlers in Clare GAA at this time are adding to that history and if everything goes to plan on Saturday they will give both clubs another glorious chapter for their histories.
James Cullinan (Ruan) and Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) are the joint captains of the St Flannans College Harty cup team which is seeking to extend the school’s lead at the top of the role of honour in this prestigious competition, the Munster colleges senior A hurling championship.
Speaking to The Clare Echo ahead of Saturday’s final, James admitted, “it’s a dream to play hurling for Flannans. Most parents mightn’t like it but the reason many come to the school is to play hurling. We were disappointed last year when we lost the final to Thurles and that disappointment has a part to play in getting us to this year’s final. Yes, we want to heal the wounds from last year but this is a new team that has earned its way to the final”.
In preparation for the campaign the squad “did a bit during the summer and at that time some of us were involved with our clubs as well. It was straight into the preparations once we returned to school”, the team’s centre back stated.
James is proud to be from a club that has provided many players to a number of Harty cup title winning sides with the famed school. These include his late grandfather Frank Custy who was a member of the 1957 title winning team. Another great Ruan clubman Clare’s All-Ireland winner from 1995, Cyril Lyons starred in the school’s 1976 victory.
Reflecting on the meeting of the finalists in the opening round he recalled “we didn’t start well and we can’t leave it to half time on Saturday to get going. We know what they are going to bring, we must target a full 60 minute performance. We know them well, we played then in Dean Ryan, we have met some of them in the minor and under 20 competitions”.
“Support has a part to play but the same lines are on the pitch for both teams,” he said of the strong Clare contingent expected to be supporting the Ennis school in Cusack Park.
Acknowledging that St. Flannans has a great history in colleges hurling he quickly said “we want to make our own history. It’s a privilege to be part of this”.
Team mate Dara Kennedy is ruled out due to injury and the joint captain is clearly disappointed for the Ballyea clubman. “He is a massive leader within the group and a serious player and he will be a massive loss to the team.
Cullinan concluded, “it will be a dream come true if myself and Harry get to collect the cup but to do that we have to beat a very good Nenagh team and our full focus is on achieving that result”.
