Team:

Subs used: Tadhg O'Tuama, Kevin Burke

Man-of-the-match: Conor Ryan

Scores:

Thomas Hill 1-2

David Fitzgerald 1-0

Team:

Scores:

E Ryan...............1-0

Conor Ryan...........0-2

Quinn, Carey, O'Hara 0-1 each

Man-of-the-Match: Conor Ryan

Our under-seventeen hurlers competed in the 'A' county championship at this level for the first time in a number of years. Our first outing was against our arch rivals, The Abbey C.B.S., from Tipperary Town . This game, played in Cahir, proved to be the highlight of the hurling year from a High School perspective. Having played with a stiff breeze in the first half, we found ourselves in arrears at the interval. When the Abbey boys increased their advantage with a couple of points in the early stages of the second half, it looked like the end of our Fitzgerald Cup dream. What was to follow was dramatic, to say the least. Ciaran Lorigan, our youngest player on the day, scored two quick, well-taken and well-worked, goals. Later his club mate, Sean Carey, found himself on his own in front of goal and hit a screamer of a shot that gave no chance to the opposing 'keeper (think of Henry Shefflin vs. Davy Fitz. in the league final this year!). Later Padraig Hickey ensured a six point victory with an opportunists' goal late in second half.

This brilliant performance gave us passage to the county semi-final where our opponents would be the king-pins of Tipperary colleges hurling: Thurles C.B.S. Sadly this game proved to be a different kettle of sliotars! Let's not mention the score. We'd like to say we were unlucky on the day or the ref. robbed us, unfortunately we were well and truly beaten by a Thurles side that had many players who had played a role in their school's Harty Cup exploits. Our boys put things into perspective and realised that to compete at that level requires a huge commitment that we had not put into this competition. With Sean Keating the only sixth year on the team we can look forward to a Munster 'B' u-18½ championship. The players are determined to give everything to realise their potential in this competition and it will be 'all systems go' come September.

The High School had a disappointing run in the U-14 C.B.S. All-Ireland competition. Losing the first two of our group games made it impossible to progress. The first defeat was a heartbreaking affair. After trailing against Youghal C.B.S. for most of the second half, Mark Power, Declan Ryan, Liam Carey lead the way for a dramatic come-back. Unfortunately, the opposition scored the last two points to win by two. Referee, Brian White, commented afterwards that it was the best game he was in charge of for a long time. The High School can be proud of their contribution. Our second game was to be against Mount Sion . By the time this game was played we found ourselves to have something of an injury crisis and struggled to break through a tough Mount Sion defence. Goals from Shane McCormack and Conor Ryan looked like winners but our Waterford opposition showed great composure to come back with two great points to win by one.

Hurlers in the High School can look forward to Munster campaigns at U-15, U-16½, and U-18½ level, as well as usual county competitions: First Year Hurling league, U-16 and U-17. We will also be competing in the Rice Cup U-14 competition. Let's leave no stone unturned and finish the year with no regrets, please God.

Thanks to Liam Rice, Colm Keher, Jerry Shanahan and Eamon Maher for their work during the year. This year we said goodbye to Eamon Ryan who did great work for hurling in the school over the last two years, we wish him well and thank him sincerely. Noel Russell is now assisting training in the school and thanks are also due to the local clubs and the South Board for supporting this programme. Special word of thanks also to Clonmel Og for their continuing generosity.

Even if it was a less than stellar year for hurling in the school, there were plenty of All-Star performances. So here it is, after much deliberation and bribe-taking, our choice for the top fifteen performers of the year.

So close...........Liam Pollard, John Lyne, Richard Fenton.

Goalkeeper

This has to go to Paddy Burke who probably pulled off the best five or six saves of the year. This guy is brave; at times against Thurles C.B.S. he looked like a one man assault on Omaha ; but if they were stoppable, he stopped them.

Right Corner Back

Sean Ward was a late starter - or perhaps the selectors were just blind or stupid - and he didn't make a High School team until he made an appearance on last year's U-17 team. This year he played a stormer at corner back for the U-18½s in their two Munster games. Sean plays with great confidence and determination, and never puts a foot wrong. A sixth year, he'll be missed.

Full Back

This one goes to the man they call the Bear: Shane Lawlor. Shane is developing into a fine player who seems to get stronger every day. He brought a signed Waterford jersey into the school recently and some say he even signed it himself!

Left Corner Back

Though he didn't play in this position during the year, he was a certainty on the team. Possibly the pick of the U-15s, he was singled out by Len Gaynor as the star performer in our match against Borrisokane C.S.

Right Half Back

Michael Feeney is someone you could describe as being the heart and soul of the High School. He gives everything he has on the field of play. Put in two great performances in the U-18½ championship. His absence, due to injury, against the Abbey in the U-16½ quarter final probably cost us the game. He was the one man who couldn't care less about the opposition in the Thurles game and hurled away to his heart's content until injury forced him of the field.

Centre Back

Our centre back selection probably should have a nickname of the Shane Lawlor variety; but he doesn't. He is one of only two hurlers in the country who you need only say his first name and everyone knows who you are talking about (the other is an illustrious Kilkenny man). Tony Ryan is the current legend of High School hurling. His greatest moment was his Munster final display two years ago as one of the youngest on the team. My guess is that the Tipp minors could have done than this man who seems to be able to rise to any occasion.

Left half back

Lorcan Ryan was a certainty for the heavy hurley award. In fact I doubt there is a heavier stick in the county. Seemingly he has found a means of fusing two mature ash trees. Lorcan had a great year in the backs. He himself is a fusion of toughness and skill and if he continues to improve could be one of the best.

Mid-field

The new kid on the block has surely made an impression. Finbarr Horgan was our best performer in the Munster U-15 campaign and that is more than enough to warrant his inclusion here.

Our other mid-fielder could easily be called the silent assassin. Brian Dillon doesn't draw to much attention to himself, but that is because he plays the game the way it should be played and just lets fly. In any game I'll bet he hits more ball than most.

Right half forward

Definitely our best first year, Conor Ryan played most of the year at centre-back and mid-field but is being accommodated here in the forwards. Played at full-forward for a few minutes against Mount Sion and bagged what should have been the winning goal.

Centre-forward

Steven Browne was a key player on our U-16½, U-17 and U-18½ teams. A good man to take on the opposition backs, he is a natural at this position.

Left half forward

Size, strength, good hurling ability and know-how made Thomas Hill one of the stars of our first year and U-14 teams.

Right corner forward

Sean Carey's inclusion could be justified on the strength of one goal alone. The goal in question came in the second half of our bitterly disappointing U-16½ Munster championship game against the Abbey. Tight angle, tight marking, no problem. Sean might well be the most gifted of this selection for his vision and stick-work.

Full forward

OK, so he didn't play here but given that he was one of our most versatile players this year (he played full- and centre-back, mid-field and centre forward with distinction) he can facilitate his less versatile colleagues. David Lorigan was perhaps our most consistent player this year and was one of the crew that played on the U-16½, U-17 and U-18½ teams.

Left corner forward

The highlight of Ciaran Lorigan's year was undoubtedly his 3-3 scored against the Abbey from this position in the U-17 county 'A' quarter final. With huge achievements behind him already, Ciaran, if he continues to work at his game, could yet become a household name.