Back to Back Cleary Cup Success for High School Clonmel

High School Clonmel made it two Cleary Cups in as many years as they defeated Killaloe of Clare in this year’s decider.

Match Report courtesy of:- James Hayes, High School Clonmel

High School CBS Clonmel 33, St. Anne’s Killaloe 0

High School won a hard fought final against Abbey CBS in last years decider, but this year's final proved to be a one-sided affair with High School running out 33-0 victors.

The pitch at Clonmel RFC was in perfect condition and support from both schools created a carnival atmosphere before kick off. The opening exchanges of the game saw Killaloe enjoy possession mid way into the High School half but resolute defending by Ben Lonergan, Callum O’ Ceallaigh and Aaron Kinsella kept Killaloe at bay. After soaking up this early pressure, High School centre Shane Fitzgibbon counter attacked, with the pace of Fitzgibbon not going unnoticed. With ten minutes on the clock, the impressive Eddie McIntosh made a zigzag run for the line only to be held just short. High School committed numbers to the resulting ruck, and scrum half Cathal Mcguigan fed Enda Dunphy to drive over for the first try of the game.

After sixteen minutes, a great backline move saw Shane Fitzgibbon change his angles of running and accelerate to finish underneath the posts. On twenty-seven minutes, McGuigan sniped his way over the line from the base of the ruck to extend the High School lead. Fly-half Josh Power was on great form from play and from penalties and converted all three first half tries to leave the score at 21-0 at the break.

Killaloe fired up the restart and once again enjoyed some early pressure, with centre Liam Hart making some fine breaks through the High School backline. It wasn’t to be Killaloe’s day however, as another try on forty-two minutes effectively ended this game as a contest. This time, the High School pack led by captain Cian Walsh made massive ground through direct running. Killaloe were committing more and more numbers to defend and with space increasing in the wider channels, High School ran the ball through the hands to find Jack O’ Loughlin in open space for a well deserved try. Power would miss this conversion, his only miss of the day.

With two minutes to play, 2nd row Mark Sheehan showed great awareness to tap a quick penalty and manoeuvre himself all the way to the line. Power would convert to leave the final score at 33-0.

High School : E. O’Donnell, E. Dunphy,E. McIntosh, M. Sheehan, B. Lonergan, T. Kelly, E. Phelan, C. Walsh, C. McGuigan,J. Power, S. Fitzgibbon, B. Murphy, J. O’Loughlin, A. Kinsella, C. O’Ceallaigh Subs: M. McGrath, K. Dawson, D. Kelly, J. Boland, R. Byrne, A. O’Sullivan, N. Byrne, Ruairi Burke, Brendan Walsh, G. Molloy,