Clonmel High School hurlers win all-Tipperary clash to reach Munster semi-final

Munster Senior B Hurling Quarter Final

High School CBS Clonmel 2-21 St Joseph's Borrisoleigh 1-14

Clonmel High School CBS advanced to the semi-final of the Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm, the Munster senior B hurling championship, helped largely on their way by an electric start to the game played at Fethard Town Park’s 4G pitch on Wednesday of last week against Tipperary rivals St Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh.

The game was played on a fresh and sunny but bitterly cold morning, with an 11.30 throw-in.

The game was just three minutes old and the Clonmel side had already warmed to the task with a swiftly-taken goal by Mikey Morrissey and two additional points, with Borrisoleigh responding with a point of their own.

Frees from captain Evan Spelmen kept the scoreboard moving in the right direction for the High School hurlers, while at the other end the excellent Tom Delaney kept the Borrisoleigh men in touch from placed balls and some wonderful individual scores to see the half-time score 2-10 to 0-8 in favour of the south Tipp school.

If it was the High School who had the better of the opening exchanges in the first half, it was certainly the north Tipp side who started the second period the stronger, scoring the opening three points to get the deficit down to five.

The Clonmel men responded with scores from Aaron Cagney, and industrious play throughout their backline.

The High School kept working and defended well under some pressure from a resurgent Borrisoleigh who were kept at arm’s length before a late goal by Mikey Maguire put the tie to bed, with the High School emerging on the scoreline of 2-21 to 1-14 to advance to a semi-final against the unbeaten St Francis’ of Rochestown, Cork.

The sides met in the group stage, with the Cork school emerging victorious and will be warm favourites next day.
The High School senior panel now have two massive fixtures in the weeks ahead with Munster semi-finals in hurling against Rochestown (provisionally Friday, January 19) and St Micheal’s, Listowel in football (provisionally Saturday, January 27), with venues to be decided.

Reaching two semi-finals is a great achievement but hopefully there is still more to come over the coming weeks.

Panel: Michael Bates, Liam Freaney, Mikey McGuire, Tadhg 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 (Clonmel Óg) Evan Spelman, Paddy Spelman, Tadhg Walsh, Seamie Wall, Michael Morrissey (all Fourmilewater).