Tipperary school bridge 13-year gap with win that shows signs of progress

For just the second time in their history, the High School Clonmel enjoyed success in the Fitzgerald Cup as they defeated Nenagh CBS by a point in the County Under 17 A hurling final in Fethard Town Park.

Having defeated Thurles CBS in the semi-final, the Clonmel school produced a stellar display in the final, bursting out of the blocks before showing great character to finish the match stronger and claim a first title since 2013.

After winning the toss, the High School elected to play with the breeze and made an encouraging start with the elements at their backs.

Early scores from Conall Morrisson, Dylan Condon and Ben Roche settled the Clonmel school, with KJ Dunne keeping St Joseph’s in touch with two fine points.

St Mary’s Ben Fuller was pinpoint accurate on frees and after 15 minutes the underdogs had a comfortable 0-10 to 0-2.
To their credit, Nenagh responded strongly and dominated the remainder of the half. By half-time, just a point separated the sides with the scoreboard reading 0-11 to 1-7.

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St Joseph’s and specifically Dunne had taken advantage of ill-discipline in the High School defence, hitting frees for fun and they entered the dressing room the happier side with the breeze to come in the second half.

The signs were ominous for the High School, as Nenagh made a blistering start to the second half. A flurry of points were followed by a goal as they turned a one-point deficit into a six- point lead within ten minutes of the resumption.

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Clonmel didn’t lie down, however, and with Enda Condon marshalling their defence from centre back, and the midfield pairing of Conall Morrisson and Dylan Condon acting as a launching pad, the gap was down to three points with ten minutes remaining.

Morrisson, Ben Roche and substitute Aidan McMaugh all contributed points to the Clonmel cause.

The match ebbed and flowed before Dara Beckett produced the key score of the game. An incisive run by Dylan Condon through the Nenagh defence saw him offload to Beckett, who finished to the net to tie up the match.

A frantic last 10 minutes ensued, with Fuller and Dunne exchanging points from frees, before a Morrisson point put the High School ahead with time nearly up.

Dunne once again equalised before another free from Fuller reinstated the Clonmel school’s lead with the match in stoppage time. St Joseph’s had a final chance to equalise but it drifted wide and the final whistle was blown with the High School emerging as winners on a 1-17 to 2-13 scoreline.

For the High School, Fergal Bradshaw and Enda Condon produced impressive displays in defence.Moyle Rovers’ Conall Morrisson turned in a man of the match display in midfield, ably assisted by the hardworking Dylan Condon. In attack, Dara Beckett and Ben Roche had their moments while Ben Fuller’s free-taking proved crucial.

After the High School’s encouraging Harty Cup campaign and recent football success, this win is a real tonic for the High School hurling and richly deserved for the effort put in throughout the year, particularly by this group who fell by just a point in their Munster semi-final. However, wins over both Thurles CBS and St Joseph’s Nenagh are signs of real progression for this group.