Clonmel High School edge Tipperary derby to qualify for U19B schools hurling final

TUS Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm (19 B H) Semi-Final

Clonmel High School 2-17 

Abbey CBS 2-14

By Michael McCarthy 

A superior second-half performance and some wayward shooting from the opposition saw the High School from Clonmel return to the Final of the Munster U19 B schools hurling. The Clonmel side hopes to go one better than 2024 where they came up short against Blackwater CS of Lismore. 

Played in the excellent facility of Fethard Town Park Clonmel were quickest off the mark with Aaron Cagney getting the first of his six scores after 40 seconds. Ciarán Kelly responded directly from the puckout before the Abbey would have their first of 16 wides on the day. Darragh O'Hora opened his account sandwiched between two Cagney frees. 

O'Hora tied the game up on seven minutes with a score from play. The next ten minutes would see the High School apply much of the pressure. Conal Morrisson and the very impressive Mikey McGuire scored a minor each within the space of 30 seconds while Cagney’s free on 16 minutes had Clonmel three to the good. 

Jaye Cilvinas was starting to have more of an impression around the middle and he got the Tipp town school moving again with a well-worked point from play before Darragh O'Hora put one between the sides with an almighty effort from the sideline in front of the stand. 

The Abbey were really on top and when a long delivery into the goalmouth fell to Faolán Doyle, he made no mistake dispatching to the net. Harry Lawlor had to go off injured for Clonmel and everything was going in the right direction for the Abbey CBS. 

Ciarán Kelly scored his second of the half on 27 minutes and the Abbey led by 1-6 to 0-6. As half-time approached Aaron Cagney’s effort for a point dropped short and the Abbey keeper, Ben Dudley, batted the ball out, it fell into the hands of Conal Morrisson and he scored a valuable goal to level things up. 

It was a sucker punch for the abbey as they had fought back into the game and gone ahead however it was all to play for in the second half. 

Aaron Cagney started the second as he did the first with a point in the first forty seconds and this was quickly followed up by Ben Roche's first of the day. Roche moved from midfield to full-forward and would play a pivotal role in the second period. 

Centre-back David McSweeney got in on the scoring with a long-range effort before substitute Michael Bates scored a second goal for Clonmel and they led by six points after six minutes of the second half. 

The Abbey had two wides from frees on either side of a Ben Roche minor. There was a change of free taker for the Tipp Town side and it had an immediate effect with Sean O'Mahony converting three in a three-minute spell to reduce the deficit to four. 

Jamal Yousif was starting to see more of the ball and he clipped over a nice point before Paddy Chapman and a fourth O'Mahony free had The Abbey within three with 14 to play. 

Mikey McGuire had a settling score for Clonmel and Finn Napier followed that up with a delightful score from play and the lead was back out to five. O'Mahony and Cagney exchanged pointed frees before Adam Ryan, now operating at full forward, got in passed the Clonmel defence and struck a green flag. 

Conal Morrison had another good score for Clonmel and then O'Hora had his third from play as the seconds ticked away. Ben Roche got his third of the day as the Tipp town team launched one last attack however the break fell to a high school player and the final whistle sounded. 

The Abbey will rue the wides from play and frees but overall Clonmel edged proceedings. 

The half-forward line of Mikey McGuire, Aaron Cagney, and Jamal Yousif contributed ten points of the Clonmel total while Conal Morrison was busy and dangerous all day. Full-back Micheál McMaugh held the line well while Ben Roche and Jamie O'Keeffe will be very happy with their outings. 

For the Abbey Adam Ryan was again to the fore while Jaye Cilvinas never gave up. Sean O'Mahony and Darragh O'Hora tried their hardest up front but the attack never really got going.

Clonmel High School now meets Scariff Community School of Clare in the decider on Friday week.

Clonmel High School: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Andrew Ryan (Fourmilewater), Micheál McMaugh (Fourmilewater), Max O'Dwyer (St. Mary's); Tadgh McGuire (Kilsheelan Kilcash), David McSweeney (St. Mary's, 0-1), Paddy Spellman (Fourmilewater); Jamie O'Keeffe (St. Mary's), Ben Roche (Kilsheelan Kilcash, 0-3); Mikey McGuire (Kilsheelan Kilcash, 0-2), Aaron Cagney (St Mary's, 0-6, 0-5f), Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Óg, 0-2); Conall Morrison (Moyle Rovers, 1-2), Finn Napier (St. Mary's, 0-1), Harry Lawlor (St. Mary's). 

Subs used: Michael Bates (Kilsheelan Kilcash, 1-0) for Harry Lawlor (inj).

Abbey CBS: Ben Dudley (Arravale Rovers); Alex Webster (Arravale Rovers), Cillian Barlow (Lattin Cullen), Tomás O'Shea (Lattin Cullen); Donnacha Cleary (Knockavilla Kickhams), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Morgan O'Connor (Cappawhite); David Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers, 0-1); Paddy Chapman (Lattin Cullen, 0-1), Sean O'Mahony (Arravale Rovers, 0-6), Sean Bourke (Lattin Cullen); Faolán Doyle (Solohead) (1-0), Darragh O'Hora (Solohead, 0-4, 0-1f), Ciarán Kelly (Arravale Rovers, 0-2). 

Subs used: Donnacha Quigley (Arravale Rovers) for Morgan O'Connor (inj).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr. Sheehy’s)