Tipperary school hopes to make it third time lucky in Munster hurling final

The High School Clonmel will contest the final of the TUS Corn Thomáis Mhic Choilm, the Under 19 B Munster Schools Hurling Championship, for the second year in succession after their victory over Tipperary rivals the Abbey CBS in the semi-final.

They will face off against Scariff Community College, who enjoyed a facile semi-final victory against Bishopstown Community School.

The final will be played at Ballyagran, County Limerick at 12.30 on this Saturday, February 1.

Scariff have had an impressive campaign in the competition and incredibly have an average winning margin of 22.5 points in their four games to date.

This includes winning their quarter-final against Carrick CBS by 26 points and their semi-final by 19 points.

They are led by 2023 Clare All-Ireland minor winning captain and Minor Star Hurler of the Year Eoghan Gunning. He has been ably assisted by Paul Rodgers, brother of All-Star Mark, who has been lighting up the scoreboard for fun all season along with Ben Sweeney, who has regularly hit double digits in terms of points throughout the campaign.

This forward unit will pose a serious threat to the High School.

Defensively, Seán Óg Kilkenny starred for Clare’s minors last year while midfielder Matthew Crotty played in goal for the same Clare team.

Scariff have been restricting their opponents to less than 13 points in each match and look a formidable, well-balanced side.

The High School, for their part, had a much more challenging route to the final, including a defeat in the group stage to Bishopstown.

The Clonmel school bounced back to defeat Coachford before a late comeback win over Kinsale secured their passage to the knockout stages by the skin of their teeth.

A late flurry of scores in the quarter-final saw the Clonmel school safely through against Coláiste Mhúire Thurles.

That was before the semi-final battle with Abbey CBS, which was a hugely entertaining affair, with both sides exhibiting their array of hurling skills on the 4G surface in Fethard.

The High School have never tasted victory at senior level hurling, having lost two finals of this competition previously, including last year’s final to Blackwater CS, Lismore.

The High School return with five starters from last year’s final team and will hope that this experience will stand to them in this year’s decider.

Peter Boland of Moyle Rovers has had a very good campaign in goal, with his crucial save late on against the Abbey CBS proving vital.

In defence, they will be backedboned by three Fourmilewater players with Andrew Ryan, Michéal McMaugh and Paddy Spelman all representing the Waterford club, while Jamie O’Keeffe of St Mary’s and Kilsheelan’s Ben Roche form an industrious midfield pairing.

Upfront, All-Ireland minor winner Aaron Cagney of St Mary’s will lead the attack from centre forward, with all of the six forwards eligible for next season’s competition.

On the line, teachers Ciarán Barrett, Paddy O’Gorman and Michael Breen will hope that their young side produces a performance for the ages and create history for the Clonmel school in the school’s 125th year.

Scariff will no doubt enter this final as strong favourites, having swept past all opponents to date with relative ease, and Clonmel will have to improve on their displays to date if they are to challenge the Clare school.

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However, the High School have shown great determination and no little resilience to date with their young side to reach this stage again, and will be hoping their hard work all year pays dividends on the day.