The final of the Senior Munster Under 18 Cup took place at Cooke Park , Tipperary Town on Friday last. Both teams had come through difficult semi-finals, the High School having defeated Cashel and Flannan's defeating Pres, Cork . It was an eagerly anticipated match, as it had been postponed on numerous occasions, due to weather and accommodation of other sports.
As it happened Friday turned out to be a fantastic day for a game of football, with Cooke Park looking magnificent. It was with high hopes and the well wishes of the local community that the High School took to the field.
It was not to prove a joyful occasion on the day however, with Flannan's, much more physically imposing, snatching an early goal, with a spectacular strike from their main striker, who along with the Flannan's number six, had a marvelous game!!! The High School soon settled and had chances of their own with Rory Kiely and David McGrath both going close. However just as it seemed we might get to half time just one goal down, Flannan's were awarded a free. The resulting free was swung in and a Flannans head got to the ball to send a looping headrer past the despairing dive of keeper Jonathon O'Mahony.
The second half started reasonably well for the High School. However disaster was to strike within ten minutes when a bobbling shot bounced off the keeper straight to an incoming Flannan's player who struck to make it three nil. With the High School chasing the game the inevitable happened when Flannan's scored with a deflected shot.
However even though the score-line may say otherwise, this was in no way a one-sided affair!! On another day the High School could have scored an equal number of goals, luck just was not on our side. The players in the squad must realize that there were only two teams in the final (from a starting pool of forty plus) and that it was a marvelous achievement to reach the final, it being the High School's first ever senior soccer final.
Special thanks are extended to Clonmel Celtic, especially Michael and Tess Kiely, for the use of their facilities for training and match purposes. Also thanks to St. Michaels, and especially John Cremins for making Cooke Park available. Thanks to the supporters, students, parents and friends who made the journey to support the team and gave them a fantastic reception.
So another final has passed, but it has only served to make us more determined than ever to finally bring to Clonmel the schoolboys silver wear that has thus far eluded us!!
Roll on 2005-06!!!
Ardscoil abu!!!!
Jonathon O'Mahony; Kevin O'Keeffe; Conor Morrissey (Capt); Stephen Browne; David McGrath; Kevin Dahill; Christy Aylward; Johnny Cagney; Rory Kiely; Adam McSherry; Darren Nolan;Declan Rix; Donal Lynch; Thomás McCarthy; Kevin O'Donnell; Andrew Hickey;Ian McCormack; Brendan Walsh; Stephen Keane; Jordan Corbett; Sean O'Donoghue; Lydon Hughes;Ross Larkin |