Tipperary Rugby: Heartbreak for Clonmel High School as Senior Cup run ends

Under 19 Senior Cup Qualifier Final

Clonmel High School 10 Villiers School (Limerick) 13

It was heartbreak for out U19 Rugby team in Musgrave Park last Thursday as we lost this Senior Cup Qualifier Final when Villiers kicked a penalty four minutes from the final whistle.

The first half was very tight with Villiers dominating possession and field position. They were camped in the High School 22 for 25 minutes and despite their best efforts could not breech the High School line. They finally kicked a penalty to give them a 3-0 lead.

From the restart, the High School lifted the seige and at last were on the attack in the Villiers 22. Several big carries from David Coyne, Sean Wall and Luke Slattery made the hard yards. Their pressure was rewarded when Matthew Ryan crashed over in the corner to give the High School a 5-3 lead at half time.

The second half was similar to the first with Villiers once again throwing everything at the High School. Their backs were sharp but the High School back line was equal to the task with captain Liam Maher, Jaydn Mullery, Calum Kennedy, Daniel Buckley, Sam Maher and Cailean Morrison all solid in defence.

Good field position following a lineout penalty saw the High School make another rare visit into the Villiers’ half. This time it was Alex Slattery who squeezed through a gap to score the High School's second try to extend their lead to 10-3.
Villiers replied with a converted try minutes later to draw the match 10 points apiece.

The minutes slipped by with Villiers on the attack, but the High School boys again tackled like tigers with Jack Lane, Tom O’Brien, Chulainn O’Flynn and Davy Brennan impressing.

If the match had remained a tie at 10 points apiece, the High School would have won having scored more tries.
However, with four minutes left, Villiers kicked a penalty just inside the halfway line to push them ahead 13-10.

In a thrilling finish, the High School were awarded a penalty and kicked deep into the Villiers’ 22. From the ensuing lineout the High School went searching for the winning score. This time the Villiers’ defence held and the final whistle sounded to the delight of the Villiers' team and support.

It was heartbreak for the High School to have come so close and the entire team deserve huge credit for such a valiant effort. Unfortunately it was not to be on the day.

This will be Villiers’ first time playing in the Senior Cup and we wish them well against Glenstal in January. The High School now must plan for a Mungret Cup semi-final in the New Year and may well face Villiers again in the final. We look forward to that rematch.

The High School team was: Chulainn O’Flynn, Sean Wall, David Coyne, Tom O’Brien, Davy Brennan, Jack Lane, Matthew Ryan, Luke Slattery, Alex Slattery, Liam Maher (C), Jaydn Mullery, Calum Kennedy, Sam Maher, Daniel Buckley, Cailean Morrison, Jake Byrne, Peter Perry, Dale O’Regan, Naoise Roche, James Cleary.

First Year Tipperary Schools’ Blitz
On Wednesday last, both of our First Year teams travelled to Cashel RFC to play a blitz with Cashel Community School and Thurles CBS. It was a great day of rugby with all the boys playing well.
Thanks to Cashel CS for organising the event.