Clonmel High School's brave effort falls short in Munster hurling final against Blackwater

Tus Corn Thomáis Mhic Choilm Final (Munster Schools Senior B):

HIGH SCHOOL CBS 1-14 BLACKWATER CS (Lismore) 1-19

Hopes of a first-ever Munster Senior B Schools hurling title for Clonmel High School CBS were dashed on Saturday afternoon at Fethard Town Park when they came up against a stronger and craftier Blackwater Community School in the provincial final. Despite giving everything to the cause on the day the Clonmel students met a more rounded Lismore outfit with that little bit extra in terms of skills and score-taking ability, and the west Waterford boys were full value for their victory in the end.

It was a big disappointment for the High School who arrived at the final following impressive quarter-final and semi-final wins over Borrisoleigh and Rochestown respectively. However, against an unbeaten Blackwater CS side they faced the competition’s in-form outfit and came out the wrong side of a five points loss, 1-19 to 1-14. They will still look back on the day with regret, primarily in the concession of a goal that should never have been, and a first half in which they conceded way too many frees, seven of which were pointed by Blackwater full-forward Ben Cummins.

The High School led just once in the game, at 0-3 to 0-2 after five minutes of what was a very entertaining opening quarter, but in a six-minute spell immediately after gaining that one-time advantage, the Clonmel side conceded 1-3 without reply, all to Ben Commins. Thereafter they were always chasing a game and two points was as near as they got at any stage to overhauling Blackwater CS.

Four points down at the break, 1-9 to 0-8, that disadvantage was stretched to six by the 40th minute as Blackwater CS pushed on. The Kickham Street school saw a glimmer of hope in the shape of a scrambled goal in the 41st minute scored by Mikey McGuire shortly after his introduction, but the Fintan O’Connor managed Blackwater CS always seemed to have the ability to respond and added three points from play without reply to get back to six up with 10 minutes remaining.

Clonmel High School's Evan Spelman (Fourmilewater) supported by Jamies O'Keeffe (St Mary's) in action against Blackwater CS in the Munster final at Fethard Town Park today (Saturday). Pic: John D. Kelly

The High School, driven on heroically by captain Evan Spelman at centre-forward, refused to throw in the towel and almost had a goal from Michael Morrissey in the 56th minute, that effort going narrowly wide with play under advantage. Evan Spelman put the resultant free over (his sixth of the day) to leave a puck of the ball in it at 1-17 to 1-4, but once again, as they did all day, Blackwater CS responded like a good team to hit the last two scores to claim ultimate glory.

The game had started at a flying pace and within three minutes of the start Blackwater CS were two up with points from Ben O’Sullivan and an excellent effort from 65m out on the sideline from Charlie Lineen. 

Evan Spelman with his first free of the day got the High School moving and two further points from play quickly followed from Michael Morrissey giving Clonmel their only lead of the Munster decider. A lack of discipline from the Clonmel backs then presented Blackwater CS with three frees within four minutes, all punished by Ben Cummins.

A crucial moment in the game arrived on 12 minutes, a patch of play the High School would love to have back. A clearance by Blackwater CS’s wing-back Shane Barry seemed destined to be collected by a Clonmel defender who allowed the sliotar slip through his hand. Ever-alert Stephen Murphy gathered the mistake, fed Ben Cummins and he in turn with a rocket of a shot gave Oisin O’Donoghue no chance in the High School goal. The west Waterford boys were now 1-5 to 0-3 clear and ultimately were not for turning thereafter

After that hectic opening period the rate of scoring dropped off a little and after a scoreless five minutes, Spelman and Cummins swapped frees, before the High School hit three without reply.

In the 19th minute Killian Butler fed Michael Morrissey a fine pass for the Fourmilewater man to score. Three minutes later another Spelman free, won by Tommy O’Connor inched them closer, and it was back to a two points game in the 24th minute when Aaron Cagney was involved in the build-up to Morrissey’s fourth point from play in the first half.

The closing minutes of the half were error-strewn and frustratingly the High School handed three frees in a five-minute spell to the deadly accurate Ben Cummins before the last puck of the first half, an Aaron Cagney 65, sent the sides to the break with Blackwater CS up by 1-9 to 0-8.

A superb point from the inspirational Killian Butler within 30 seconds of the restart stirred up Clonmel, but a point from a tight angle by Ben O’Sullivan and another in the 35th minute from Shane Barry pushed the lead out to five.

The High School were struggling to find scores with too much of a reliance on the free-taking of Spelman who again obliged in the 36th minute. There seemed to be no real headway being made against a Blackwater CS defence who had the measure of their opponents and further points from wing-back Shane Barry and midfielder Joseph O’Keeffe put the Waterford students six up after 40 minutes.

The High School desperately needed something to happen for them and that potential spark came in the 41st minute. A good run in from the right hand side by Aaron Cagney forced a save from Billy Murphy, but in the ensuing goalmouth scramble it appeared Mikey McGuire somehow forced the ball over the line. Dare to dream again for the CBS at 1-13 to 1-10 and approximately 20 minutes still to follow.

Joseph O’Keeffe then capitalised on a High School attack breaking down, the ball whipped over by the Lismore clubman to change the momentum, and within minutes corner-forward Stephen Murphy contributed with a brace of quality points which would dishearten most sides, but the High School refused to bow.

The umpire goes to raise the green flag after Clonmel High School's Mikey McGuire (unsighted in photo) had forced the sliotar over the line in the 41st minute of the game. Pic: John D. Kelly

Against the wind and playing into the incessant drizzle of the day, four of the next five points went the way of the Clonmel side all scored by Evan Spelman (three frees); Joseph O’Keeffe hitting his third point from play for Blackwater CS in between. With four minutes plus added time still to come there was just a puck of a ball in it, 1-17 to 1-4.

But Ben O’Sullivan and Ben Cummins had the last two points from play to once again steady the ship, even allowing Cummins to miss his very first free of the day with the game’s last puck. The dream of a first ever Munster title for the High School was over for another year.

There was nothing lost in defeat by the Clonmel lads who can take a lot of positives from a long hurling year even if the final glory was denied them.

There were plenty of good displays on the day from  the likes of Evan Spelman, Michael Morrissey, Killian Butler, Paddy Spelman, Aaron Cagney, Niall Deely and Michael O’Reilly. But the whole team and the management of Michael Breen, Paddy O’Gorman and Tom Ryan can reflect well on the year once the disappointment dissipates. 

Blackwater CS succeeded in going through the group stages and knockout rounds undefeated, and for a reason. As a full team they had more strength in depth and that bit more stickwork and nous on the ball. They had six players who managed to contribute to the scoreboard from play and that little extra range proved vital. They will return to Harty Cup hurling next year once more and deservedly so.

Clonmel High School CBS:

Oisin O’Donoghue (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Niall Deely (St Mary’s), Tadhg Walsh (Fourmilewater), Max O’Dwyer (SM), Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers, 0-1), Jamie O’Keeffe (SM), Paddy Spelman (FMW), Michael O’Reilly (MR), Liam Freaney (K/K), James Power (SM), Evan Spelman (FMW, 0-8, 0-7F), Aaron Cagney (SM, 1x65), Michael Morrissey (FMW, 0-4), Tommy O’Connor (K/K), David McSweeney (SM).

Subs: Mikey McGuire (K/K, 1-0) for O’Connor (35 minutes); Harry Lawlor (SM) for Freaney (42); Cillian Fahy (SM) for Power (52).

Blackwater Community School, Lismore:

Billy Murphy, Jack Twomey, Tomás Ahern, Conor Lynch, Tadhg Duffin, Jake Henley, Shane Barry (0-2), Joseph O’Donnell, Joseph O’Keeffe (0-3), Charlie Lineen (0-1), Adam Cummins, James Hickey, Stephen Murphy (0-2), Ben Cummins (1-8, 0-7F), Ben O’Sullivan (0-3).

Subs: Killian English for A. Cummins (55 minutes); Aidan Murphy for Murphy (59).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).