CBS Thurles Claim First Ever Munster Title
13th May 2025 By The Editor
CBS Thurles accept the Giles Shield
On Monday the 19th of December 2022 CBS Thurles fielded a team of 21 for their first ever rugby match.
Fast forward 871 days later and the team have now gone on to win their first ever piece of silverware as they were crowned Giles Shield champions after a tightly contested clash with Intermediate School Killorglin.
We caught up with head coach PJ Mulcahy after the game to discuss his three year journey with the team.
Speaking about the result Mulcahy said:
“I am delighted for the boys; we started this journey when they were in first year and who would have thought three years later they’d have won a Munster title.”
“We have such a mix in this team with boys coming from Nenagh, Thurles, Cashel, Kilfeacle and they just gel so well together. I’m so proud of what they have achieved in this short space of time.”
Mulcahy then casted his eye back to the dreary December day in 2022 when his side fielded for the very first time, crediting Munster Rugby Development staff for their support over the last three years.
“Ólan Daly and Joe Sheehan have just been absolutely immense with the support they have given to the school, no matter when we asked them, they came whenever they could and you can see the difference it makes for the lads as well.”
But what is next for the school after this bout of success? Mulcahy stated his hopes for the team to continue up into the senior ranks.
“It would be brilliant if we could continue the trajectory onwards and build into under-17s. We are just going step by step, we started off as first years then went 15s/16s, so I suppose the next step for us now is to work our way up into 17s and see where we can go from there.”
Having watched the squad grow from first years into young adults about to enter the senior cycle of secondary school, we quizzed the teacher turned coach on what his favourite memories have been so far.
“There has been so many moments that have stood out to me from my time with this group that it is hard to pick just one. We’ve had lads who have never played the game before stepping onto the field for the first time which to me is an achievement in itself.”
“Then there is the result today obviously which is brilliant for them as it shows the effort and the heart that they put into it paying dividends.”
It has been fantastic to see rugby grow within the Premier County and we wish CBS Thurles all the best in whatever they do next.
