Clonmel High School win Tipperary under 17 hurling title in thrilling final

County Tipperary Schools Under 17 B Hurling Final

Clonmel High School 1-13 St Joseph's Borrisoleigh 1-11

A goal by the High School’s Finn Napier with five minutes to play proved the decisive score in this gripping and hard fought County Under 17 Hurling B Schools Final in Boherlahan.

Leading by a point at the time of the goal, St Joseph’s threw everything at the Clonmel side for the final few minutes, which included seven minutes of stoppage time, but the High School’s defence stood firm under severe pressure and broke to land two insurance points of their own.

Both sides had battled their way to the final in a very competitive competition, with the Borrisoleigh school having to beat Abbey CBS and Borrisokane CC, while the High School overcame Coláiste Mhúire Thurles, Carrick CBS (after extra-time) and Thurles CBS B on their side of the draw to set up an intriguing final.

Borrisoleigh, playing with a stiffish breeze in the opening half, opened the scoring with a pointed free by wing forward Patrick Ryan, who was to prove a thorn in the side of the High School, having a huge battle with Jack Lawlor throughout.

Clonmel Óg’s Jamal Yousif broke through the middle to open the High School account in a lively opening five minutes. Patrick Ryan struck his first point from play before a long ball into the Borrisoleigh defence broke dangerously and Finn Napier was on hand to pull on the breaking ball to the net.

St Joseph’s responded well and indiscipline in the Clonmel side’s defence was punished by the accurate Ryan.

Points from play by Harry Lawlor and Aaron Cagney, who also added three pointed frees, kept the Clonmel’s scoreboard ticking over but St Joseph’s finished the half the stronger and got a break as a speculative ball into the square somehow found its way to the High School net.

They followed this with a point from play from Patrick Ryan and along with his accuracy from frees, the north Tipp side led 1-9 to 1-6 at half-time.

Scores proved hard to come by early in the second half, as weather conditions deteriorated, but an early 65 by Patrick Ryan extended the Borrisoleigh lead to four before Yousif once again replied for the High School.

In tense exchanges, scores were hard to come by for both sides but an improved and more disciplined High School defensive display repelled the St Joseph’s attacks, while at the other end county minor panelist, St Mary’s Aaron Cagney converted two frees to leave the minimum between the sides.

St Joseph’s once again replied with a 65 by Ryan after Michael Bates in the Clonmel goal managed to divert a goalbound shot to safety. Cagney converted a difficult free from the right wing to close the gap once more before a ball into the inside forward line was won by Napier, who broke a tackle before batting the sliotar past David Conway in the Borrisoleigh goal to rouse the large Clonmel support in attendance.

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Now trailing by a point, St Joseph’s could not breach the Clonmel half back line, who had stormed into the game as they hooked and blocked on numerous occasions like their lives depended on it. Then a long clearance was won by High School captain Jamie Ryan and despite being on the sideline and close to the endline, he managed to strike an inspirational score to extend the lead to three.
The game continued into more than five minutes of stoppage time and St Joseph’s continued to desperately launch the ball into their full forward line.

But despite the pressure, they failed to get a clean shot at the Clonmel goal. Aaron Cagney converted with the last puck of the game to give the High School a somewhat flattering yet impressive four point win on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-11.

The winning of this game was probably the wider spread of scorers, as the High School had five contributors to their winning tally, while Patrick Ryan was the only point scorer for Borrisoleigh.
For the High School, Jack Lawlor had a massive second half while the half back line grew into the game, ably assisted by Paddy Spellman and Jamal Yousif in midfield.

Liam Freaney was effective throughout while Mikey McGuire’s aerial prowess on the Borrisoleigh puckout proved key.

Aaron Cagney’s contribution from placed balls was also crucial to the High School success.
High School: Michael Bates (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Jack Norris (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Jack Lawlor (St Mary’s), Tadhg McGuire (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), David McSweeney (St Mary’s), Jamie O’Keeffe (St Mary’s), Paddy Spellman (Fourmilewater), Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Óg), Mikey McGuire (Kilsheelan), Jamie Ryan (C) (St Mary’s), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan), Harry Lawlor (St Mary’s), Finn Napier (St Mary’s), Aaron Cagney (St Mary’s), Rhys Lonergan O’Reilly (Clonmel Óg), James Power (St Mary’s), Max O’Dwyer (St Mary’s), Cian O’Keeffe (FMW), Luke Hannigan (Clonmel Óg), Bríain Morrison (Moyle Rovers), Míchéal McMaugh (FMW), Brandon Landers (Clonmel Óg), Reece Peters (FMW), Paudie Ryan (Moyle Rovers), Eoin Hannon (St Mary’s), Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers), Darragh Butler (Moyle Rovers), James Butler (Newcastle), Ewan Rumble (Kilsheelan), Alex McCabe (St Mary’s), Louis Carroll (Moyle Rovers).
Management: Ciarán Barrett, Nick Ryan.