Cashel CS overcome Clonmel High School in Tipperary 'First Years' football final

After winning the B county title the previous week, the Clonmel High School A First Year footballers set out for Dr Morris Park, Thurles last week in the hope of completing the double, with a number of the players’ performances being rewarded with places on the A panel.

The High School had won this competition last year and were hoping to retain the trophy.
After a slow start in their opening game, Thurles CBS and the High School had to settle for a point each in the group after ironically playing out a dour 0-1 to 0-1 draw.

In their second game, a much improved performance saw the Clonmel lads emerge victorious over Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cahir, on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-3.

The next fixture placed the High School against unbeaten Cashel Community School and in a close contest the Cashel school emerged with a one-point victory by 0-4 points to 0-3.

The final group game pitted the High School against Our Lady’s Templemore and nothing other than a win would see the High School advance to the final.

Clonmel High School CBS First Year A footballers who reached this year's county final

In their best performance of the day, Clonmel played some lovely football to emerge with the win by 2-6 to 1-2 and advance to play Cashel Community School once again in the final.

In the decider, Cashel proved to be the much slicker and fitter outfit, as the Clonmel side seemed out on their feet, and Cashel deservedly emerged as winners and county First Year football champions for 2023.

High School panel: Aidan Gaffey, Josef Podzimek, Emmet Cagney, Cillian O’Reilly, Tom Grace, Riley Lacey, Leon Kelly Joyce (all Commercials), Ryan Kennedy, Dylan Fahey, Tadhg White, Billy Landers, Kaine Tobin, Ben Kelleher, Luke Kealy, John Williamson (all Clonmel Óg), Brandon Ryan, Aaron Wyse, Cruz Peters (all The Nire), Ryan Condon, Jimmy Nugent, Luke Fahy (all Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Michael Hahessy, Rory O’Dwyer (both Clerihan), Alek Kelleher (Moyle Rovers), Harry Walshe (Ardfinnan), John Power (Cahir), Ahmad Al Musa (unattached).