Clonmel High School hurlers lose thriller but still advance to all-Tipperary quarter-final

Munster Senior B School Hurling Championship

High School CBS Clonmel 3-19 Scariff Community College 4-21

A performance of the highest quality from Clare All-Ireland winning minor hurler Eoin Gunning saw Scarriff CC overcome the High School, Clonmel on the 4G surface at UL, Limerick on Wednesday last.

Both sides needed something from this game to ensure qualification but other results would also come into play as the Abbey CBS and Rochestown faced off at the same time.

The Clare school, with two losses already in the competition, started like a team fighting for their lives and brought an intensity that the Clonmel men struggled to cope with. They had the better of the first half exchanges and opened up an incredible 11 points lead with 17 minutes gone as the High School struggled with all aspects of their game all over the pitch.

Conor Keane, who was playing centre back for Scarriff was delivering high quality ball into the full forward line which caused the Tipperary school no end of problems. However, this High School team is made of tough stuff and they responded in due kind and battled back to trail by just five points at half-time. Evan Spellman, Aaron Cagney and Jamie O’Keeffe showed up strongly for the Clonmel school and led the fightback with ever better results soon to follow.

On the resumption, the High School started like men possessed and had the game level within seven minutes of the restart. Michael Morrissey and Tommy O’Connor helped to lead the renaissance, however two missed scoring opportunities proved costly as Scarriff again raided and struck for two quick goals and a point to turn this game on its head once more and lead by five again: a lead they would not relinquish again.

Both teams were now fighting tooth and nail for survival and the Clonmel school closed the gap to three points again with only seven minutes remaining, but that man Gunning showed his class and goaled again to bring his total to 3-6 on the day and push the Clare school out of sight.

The High School battled right to the end but could not close the gap sufficiently as a thoroughly entertaining tie finished Scariff 4-21 to High School’s 3-19.

In the other group game, Rochestown defeated the Abbey to top the group leaving Clonmel, Scariff and the Abbey tied on four points each. After the abacus was produced, the scoring difference in the games between the three sides confirmed the High School as finishing second in the group despite losing their final two games while Abbey, despite defeating Scariff earlier in the competition were the unlucky team to finish fourth as Scariff secured third place and advanced to the quarter final.
The High School now face into a Tipperary derby against St Joseph’s of Borrisoleigh in the quarter-final on January 10 before their Munster B football semi-final against Listowel on January 27.

Panel: Michael Bates, Liam Freaney, Mikey McGuire, Tadgh McGuire, Jack Norris, Tommy O’Connor, Oisín O’Donoghue (All Kilsheelan/Kilcash) Killian Butler, Michael O’Reilly, Paudie Ryan, Darragh Butler, Briain Morrisson (All Moyle Rovers) Niall Deely, David McSweeney, Jamie Ryan, Max O’Dwyer, Jamie O’Keeffe, James Power, Scott Walsh, Finn Napier, Aaron Cagney, Harry Lawlor, Cillian Fahy (All St Mary’s) Kyle Grant, Jamal Youseff, Brandon Landers (Clonmel Óg) Evan Spellman, Paddy Spellman, Tadgh Walsh, Seamie Wall, Michael Morrissey (All Fourmilewater).