School Notes | High School CBS Clonmel U15s Celebrate Unbeaten Season

Our latest edition of School Notes comes from High School CBC Clonmel who this month won the Cleary Cup.

By Brendan Mullan. 

On Tuesday of last week, the High School U15 Rugby team won the Cleary Cup, following a hard-fought Final against Colaiste Dun Iascsigh, Cahir, in Fethard Town Park.

The match was played in sunny but very windy conditions in front of enthusiastic supporters from both schools.

Coláiste had the wind in the first half, but it was the High School which opened the scoring following sustained pressure. Successive phases from one touch line to the other saw Natan Gucwa score in the corner to give the High School a 5 nil lead.

Coláiste’s reply was swift: some strong running from their big forwards gave Cahir captain Conor Hurley the chance to score a good try. He kicked the conversion to put his team 7-5 ahead.

This spurred on Coláiste and they quickly added a second try by impressive Tadgh Dunlea to increase their lead 12-5.

As the match neared half time, the High School worked their way back into Coláiste’s 22. Hard yards by Mbekezeli Masuku, James Blanchfield and Darragh Dempsey gave prop Jakub Prazan the chance to charge over to score a fine try. This left the score 12-10 to Coláiste at half time.

The High School had the big wind at their backs in the second half and they used it to good effect. Outhalf Conall Morrisson pinned Colaiste in their half with impressive kicks into space.

The High School capitalised and soon took the lead. A penalty gave the Clonmel school a line out in Coláiste’s 22. Good work from Natan Gucwa gave clean ball to scrum half Olan Doocey. Centre Jerome Phelan was on hand to cut through the defence to score a great team try, putting his team 15-12 ahead.

Minutes later, centre Conor Williams showed pace and strength beating several defenders to score under the posts. Morrison added the conversion extending the High School’s lead to 22-12.

Colaiste showed great determination working their way back into the High School’s half. However, any turnover ball was returned with interest with the aid of the strong wind.

The High School CBS Clonmel Cleary Cup winning squad. Photo Credit: High School CBS Clonmel

High School’s back three of Cody Lee, Alex Pyke and Aidan McMaugh were industrious in attack and defence, while James Blanchfield, Sam Normile, Michael Maher and Jack Fitzpatrick were playing very well in the pack.

The High School made several substitutions with Seb Hopkins, Sean Delahunty, Tony O’Brien, Jamie Cahill, Callum Condon , Conor Corbett and Sean Woods all introduced.

The High School continued to press home their advantage, lead by their captain Mbekezeli Masuku, and his hard work paid off when he scored his team’s fifth try 3 minutes from full time. Morrisson kicked the conversion to push the High School 29-12 ahead.

The referee Olan Daly blew the full time whistle to the delight of the High School boys and supporters.

Munster Rugby Branch Vice President Brendan Foley presented the Cleary Cup to High School captain Mbekezeli Masuku. Mr. Foley congratulated both schools for their part in a fantastic final. He also paid tribute to referee Olan Daly of Munster Rugby and thanked Fethard Town Park for hosting the final.

A special word of thanks to all of the family members who travelled to Fethard to support our boys. They were fantastic and certainly spurred the High School team onto victory!

The Cleary Cup was first played in 2005 and this is the High School’s seventh time winning the competition, having lost the final on the previous two occasions. Of more significance is that the High School U15 team has gone unbeaten for the entire season, following on from their McCarthy Cup win over St. Munchins College in December. This is a fantastic achievement and tremendous credit is due to the team and their coaches for all their hard work.

The High School panel: Aidan McMaugh, Cody Lee, Jerome Phelan, Conor Williams, Conall Morrisson, Alex Pyke, Olan Doocey, Mbekezeli Masuku, Sam Normile, James Blanchfield, Natan Gucwa, Darragh Dempsey, Jakub Prazan, Michael Maher, Jack Fitzpatrick, Seb Hopkins, Tony O’Brien, Sean Delahunty, Callum Condon, Jamie Cahill, Sean Woods, Conor Corbett, Ben Tierney, Patrick Normile.