Under 16
This team has now advanced to the Quarter Final stage in Munster , after what has proved a difficult beginning in terms of away fixtures. Firstly, in the group stages we came up against St. Declan’s, Kilmacthomas, at home, in a game, which we won 5-0. The second and third games were away from home, first against Waterpark College , Waterford , which was won 4-0, and secondly against Thurles, against in the end won 4-0.

After three clean sheets and thirteen goals scored it was off to Cork for our last 16 matches, yet another away game.

This game was against Scoil Muire Gan Smál, of Blarney . This was a three o’clock kick off. The High School played probably it’s best game of the season so far to emerge five nil victors. The draw for the quarterfinal was not been kind to us either. The High School faced another away trip to Cork , this time to face Douglas C.S. After a long journey the High School again proved victorious on a 2-0 score line. The semi-final that followed played on a blustery day, proved to be a disappointing affair against ST. Paul ‘s of Waterford . St. Paul ‘s scored a crucial first goal, somewhat luckily. As the High School chased the game, St. Paul ‘s scored a second and went on to win two nil, and emerging victorious in the final.

This bunch of young men have shown enormous potential and will surely be amongst the favourites next year, in both the U-16 and U-18 competitions.
Under 18
This team was entered into two separate competitions this year, the Smart Telecom Munster Boys Senior Cup, and the Under 18 Cup. Both are held with a high level of esteem, the pinnacle if you like of schoolboy soccer.
The Smart Telecom Cup began with a bye in Round 1, and a home fixture in Round 2 against Waterpark College . For their own reasons, Waterpark offered us a walkover and it was into Round Three for the High School. A home fixture was our reward, against The Presentation School of Cork. In a very testing game for the High School, we prevailed to emerge 1-0 victors. The quarterfinal beckoned now and an away fixture against Limerick C.B.S., perhaps the strongest school in Munster soccer right now. The absence of a few key players was to prove perhaps our downfall here, with the concession of two goals in the first half. However the High School battled well in the second half ad scored within five minutes of the restart. Disaster struck shortly afterwards, when in conceding a free on the edge of the box, the High School failed to pick up the Limerick players ghosting in to score a crucial third. Limerick went on to score gain in the final minutes to kill the game off and the High School were out at the quarterfinal stage.

The Under 18 Cup, running concurrently with the Smart Telecom Cup, began with a difficult fixture at home to Chair, which we won 2-0. Round two gave us another home draw against Blackwater, played back in December, which was won 5-1. Round 3 was again kind to us with another home draw, this time against Abbey C.C., Ferrybank, Waterford . The High School emerged from this victorious with a 4-1 score line. On then to the Munster Semi-Final and an away draw to our old rivals, Cashel. With the majority of our players still underage for next year, it was expected that Cashel would be highly favored to win. The game was played during the mid-term, Friday 18 th ; as it was felt that it couldn’t be left until after the mock exams. The High School emerged one-nil victors in a hard fought and tense battle.
C.B.S. Clonmel 0-4 St. Flannans
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