Tremendous fightback puts Clonmel High School through to first final in ten years

Clonmel High School 1-10 Presentation Secondary School Milltown 1-8

In a thrilling encounter played on a testing, heavy surface, Clonmel High School produced a spirited revival to hold their Milltown, Kerry opponents scoreless in the second half and chisel out a two-point victory to reach their first TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Munster Under 19 A Football Championship final in ten years, following this afternoon’s exciting semi-final at Kilmallock.

They will meet Tralee CBS in the final on Saturday February 7, following their 1-15 to 0-7 defeat of St. Francis College Rochestown in the other last four tie.

While all was not lost for the Clonmel team at half-time, the signs weren’t encouraging. They were six points in arrears, 1-8 to 0-5, against a Presentation Milltown team whose slick passing patterns in attack had the High School in trouble.

However, they were a team transformed on the turnover. Their performance was boosted by increased levels of energy, vibrancy and self-belief, as they slowly but surely gained the upper hand.

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They had the best possible start to the second half. Barely a minute had elapsed when joint captain Mikey McGuire, now operating on the edge of the square, collected Luke Foley’s pass and held off Marcus Clifford's challenge to blast a low shot to the net.

They could have had another goal while the half was still in its infancy. Aaron McAndrew raced clear before his stinging shot was pushed over the bar by Milltown ‘keeper Daniel Duggan, just a minute later.

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Having regained a foothold in the game, confidence flowed through the High School players. Luke Foley scored the game’s only two-pointer when he thumped a free between the posts from the 45 mark in the 42nd minute to draw the teams level (1-8 each). 

The Clonmel side hit the front for the first time two minutes later when Jamal Yousif and Mikey McGuire combined to set up Aaron McAndrew for a point. McAndrew returned the compliment to Yousif shortly afterwards but James Spillane produced a timely intervention just as the Clonmel Óg player was about to pull the trigger.

Milltown had their chances too. The previously deadeye Killian Fitzgerald missed with a couple of long range efforts, while High School ‘keeper James O’Brien stood firm under a few shots that dropped short.

The lack of scores, coupled with the High School’s resurgence, drained Milltown’s confidence. In added time, Killian Smith supplied the pass for Conor Freaney to put the cherry on top for the High School with the final score of the afternoon, just before the influential Mikey McGuire was dismissed.

It was all hands to the pump for the High School in the remaining moments. Added time seemed to last an eternity, and in those anxious minutes for the Clonmel side Killian Fitzgerald’s shot from distance was pushed away for a ‘45 by James O’Brien. 

When the final whistle eventually sounded, it triggered a pitch invasion by the ecstatic High School subs, mentors and supporters, as they celebrated this famous victory.  

High School had leaders all over the pitch. Luke Foley’s workrate was immense. Aaron McAndrew’s direct running and accuracy had the Milltown defence at sixes and sevens. Killian Smith, Conor Freaney and Dylan McCormack were always industrious too, while Mikey McGuire’s switch to full forward paid handsome dividends with the goal that sparked the comeback.

After a difficult first half the defence stood tall in the second half, none more so than Harry Lawlor and Luke Hannigan.

High School will look for a much more consistent performance in the final. Milltown settled much faster from the throw-in, and the Clonmel goal led a charmed life as early as the third minute when Ryan Carey put the rebound wide from close range after Killian Fitzgerald’s delivery had broken in the danger zone.

Scores from Marcus Clifford and a Fitzgerald free had Milltown ahead before Dylan McCormack opened the High School’s account in the 12th minute.

Three crucial moments in the first half went against the Clonmel team. The first of those arrived in the 16th minute when Milltown goalie Daniel Duggan saved Dylan McCormack’s penalty, after the Clonmel Óg player had been hauled down.

The second came in the 20th minute when Mikey McGuire was black-carded. At that stage the High School were behind by 0-6 to 0-3, and worse was to follow in the 25th minute when the unmarked Diarmuid Quirke shot to the net to make it 1-7 to 0-4. 

The High School responded with a Conor Freaney point after one of their best moves of the match. Liam Harmon had the final say of the first half with a Milltown point in added time. 

Little did we know that they wouldn’t raise another flag for the remainder of the game, as the High School gradually emerged as the dominant force.

Roll on the final.    

High School: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers), John Lyons (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Rian Galko (Clonmel Óg), Harry Lawlor (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Hannigan (Clonmel Óg joint captain), Andrew Ryan (The Nire), Paddy Spelman (The Nire), Mikey McGuire (Kilsheelan/Kilcash joint captain 1-0), Luke Foley (Moyle Rovers 0-2 point free), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers 0-3), Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 0-1), Briain Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Conor Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 0-2), Finn Napier (Clonmel Commercials 0-1), Dylan McCormack (Clonmel Óg 0-1 free).

Substitutes: Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Óg) for Andrew Ryan (half-time), Donal Morrisson (Moyle Rovers) for Briain Morrisson (49 minutes), David Ryan (The Nire) for Dylan McCormack (59 minutes).

Presentation Secondary School Milltown: Daniel Duggan, James Spillane, Marcus Clifford (0-1), Sean Clifford, Ryan Carey, Evan Doona, Liam Harmon (0-2), Michael Lynch, Brian Mangan (0-1), Diarmuid Quirke (captain 1-0), Kevin Coffey, Ryan Costello, Danny Murphy (0-1), Killian Fitzgerald (0-3 frees), Shane O’Loughlin.

Substitutes: Donnacha Quirke for Shane O’Loughlin (49 minutes), Jan Ziober for Ryan Costello (53 minutes).

Referee: John Ryan (Cork).