More than 30 First Years donned Tipperary school's jersey on three blitz days

Clonmel High School entered two teams into this year’s Schools First Year County Hurling Championships, participating at A and C level. More than 30 hurlers represented the school over three blitz days.

The High School A team hurlers got their year up and running in Coolmore Dr Morris Park with a great day’s hurling with matches against Our Lady’s Templemore, Cashel CS and Thurles CBS.

This group of players have been training three days a week in hurling and football since they started in the school and have settled in really well into GAA life in the High School.

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They started their day with a tough game against Our Lady’s Templemore. Clonmel performed really well in the first half and the teams were level at half-time.

An early goal in the second half for Templemore saw the High School three points down. Despite being on top for the remainder of the game, chances went abegging and the High School couldn’t find the scores required and agonisingly fell short by two points, 1-2 to 0-3.

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Despite this disappointment, the High School rallied well against Cashel CS. They started really strongly and led for the whole game, with brilliant scores backed up by great defending to prevailby 3-6 to 1-1.

Next, they faced a very strong Thurles CBSs team in the last group game and were well beaten to finish out the first day.

On the second blitz day, the High School first faced Nenagh CBS, knowing that only a win could keep them in the hunt for a cup or shield final place.

The Clonmel players battled well in tough conditions to lead 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time, but faced a big wind for the second half. The players showed incredible heart and desire against the breeze to hold on for a well-deserved 0-5 to 0-4 win.

The final group match saw the High School face Abbey CBS. The Abbey were strong favourites for a cup final place and their strength showed in the end, winning 1-4 to 1-2 in what was a tough battle.

This result ensured the High School qualified for the A Shield final. They again faced Nenagh CBS and it proved to be a high-quality affair, but scores were hard to come by as the heavy rain fell. Nenagh were the more clinical side and won a tight game by 2-4 to 1-3. The High School A players can be really proud of their efforts and had chances right up to the end.

The High School First Year B hurlers competed in the C championship at the Duneske venue in Cahir.

This was the first outing for this group in the red and black of High School and they equipped themselves very well.

They got their first experience of playing against several of the other Tipperary secondary teams including Abbey CBS, St Ailbes, Thurles CBS, Comeragh College and Cashel CS and won four of their five matches. But a defeat by Thurles CBS saw Thurles advance as group winners.

High School panel: Hamza Al Musa (St Mary’s), Mason McCormack (Clonmel Óg), AJ Howe (Ballybacon/Grange) Alex Cassin (Clonmel Óg), Alfie Messinger (Clonmel Óg), Barak Williams (Clonmel Óg), Billy Hannigan (Clonmel Óg), Cayden Kinane (Clonmel Óg), Charlie Fanning (St Mary’s), Cian Gilchreest (Clonmel Óg), Cían Trehy (St Mary’s), Corey Condon (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Cullen Casey (Ballybacon/Grange), Frankie Burke (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Frankie Fallon (Clonmel Óg), Hugh McGuinness (Fourmilewater), Jack Ryan (Clonmel Óg), James Walsh (Fourmilewater), John O’Gorman (Fourmilewater), Kalvin Madigan (Fourmilewater), Lorcan Lowe (Clonmel Óg), Mason Ryan (Clonmel Óg), Michael Fahey (Clonmel Óg), Michael Stokes (Clonmel Óg), Mikey Fennesey (St Mary’s), Noah Doocey (Fourmilewater), Oisin Wall (Moyle Rovers), Oisin Harris (Newcastle), Oisin White (Clonmel Óg), Paudie Power (St Mary’s), Rhylee Grogan (Clonmel Óg), Shay O’Loughlin (Clonmel Óg).