Clonmel High School First Years win Tipperary County B Football Championship
Clonmel team had prepared well for the blitz
The High School First Year B Gaelic football panel descended on Fethard Town Park to take part in the County B Blitz.
The Clonmel side had prepared well in the weeks leading up to the blitz, with over 40 players attending training, while two teams played a challenge game against St Flannan’s of Ennis on the Clonmel school’s 4G pitch.
The group stage saw the High School face off against near neighbours Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard and Colaiste Dun Iascaigh B of Cahir.
The High School started slowly in the opener against Fethard but some fine attacking play from Kaine Tobin drove on the team to canter into a 2-3 lead in the opening half.
With the elements behind them in the second half, Fethard got into a groove and quickly shot back with 1-3 to no reply.
However, some brilliant defending from Brandon Ryan allowed the High School to hold out and take the opener by three points.
The second game saw Clonmel face off against Colaiste Dun Iascaigh’s second team. After a tricky opener against a physical Fethard outfit, the CBS team were ready for Cahir and thundered into an early lead, with some great direct running from Ryan Kennedy in the middle.
The forwards fired well and some great link-up play from captain Michael Hahessy gave the High School the win, allowing them to progress to the semi-final against Abbey CBS.
The semi-final was a tense affair, where the High School squared up against the Tipp town men on the main pitch. Clonmel played against the breeze in the opening half and started well with a well-taken goal against the run of play.
Some great defending saw the High School go in with a narrow lead at the break, knowing that they had the elements in the second half.
An early purple patch allowed the High School to take control of the game but Abbey CBS fought until the end before Clonmel ultimately prevailed by 2-5 to 2-1.
The stage was set for an interesting final against table toppers from the other group, the unbeaten Comeragh College. High School were primed and ready for a battle and got off to an electric start, scoring two goals in the opening exchanges to rock the Carrick contingent.
A good team performance for the remainder of the game saw High School run out winners and crowned the First Year County B football champions.
The panel of 29 all saw game time and contributed to the success. Commercials, Clonmel Óg, Kilsheelan, Ardfinnan, Moyle Rovers, Clerihan and The Nire were all well represented, while three players who are unattached to clubs contributed well in Fethard Town Park.
Emmet Cagney of Clonmel Commercials and Michael Hahessy of Clerihan lifted the trophy to the joy of the High School panel, as they experienced their first piece of success in a High School Clonmel jersey.
Panel: Aidan Gaffey, Josef Podzimek, Emmet Cagney, Cillian O’Reilly, Tom Grace, Riley Lacey (all Commercials) Evan Peters, Ethan Dutton Roberts, Ryan Kennedy, Dylan Fahey, Tadhg White, Danny Arrigan, Keelen Lee, Billy Landers, Kaine Tobin, Ben Kelleher (all Clonmel Óg) Brandon Ryan, Aaron Wyse, Mikey Dempsey (all The Nire) Charlie McGee, Jimmy Nugent, Luke Fahy (all Kilsheelan) Michael Hahessy, Rory O’Dwyer (both Clerihan) Ronan Fanning (Moyle Rovers) Harry Walshe (Ardfinnan), Ahmad Al Musa, Shane Hannon, Allan Compa (all unattached).