Under 14 Football
Three teams participated in the Rockwell Blitz and although the teams weren’t successful, it was a great day’s football. Also a 1st year league took place at lunch times with over 60 pupils taking part.
Under 15 Football
Last October, the under 15 team were very unlucky to be beaten by a point in the Munster Championship. Unfortuently, the lads suffered heartbreak as Coláiste Choilm scored a goal in stoppage time after we had led for most of the game, it finishing 2-7 to 2-6.
The team later in the year won the County Final for the 7th year in a row. After defeating Cashel CS comfortably in the semi-final, they played the Abbey CBS in the Final and having been defeated at under 14 level by the same opposition last year, the lads defeated the Abbey by 1-13 to 2-6 in Cahir on the 2nd of April with Philip Lambe getting the goal and this team being captained by Gavin Ryan.
Under 16 & ½ Football
The under 16 & ½ team reached the Munster Final (Frewen Cup) for the 2nd year in a row where they will played PS Chorca Dhuibhne of An Daingean. Having lost to the same opposition by a point in last year’s final and having lost 4 finals since our last win in 1939/40, there was great hope that these lads bring the trophy back to the school again this year for the 1st time in 73 years, and for only the 2nd time ever but however things didn’t go our way on the day despite a Titanic effort and we were bearten by 0-10 to 2-2.
After a few challenge matches, the High School played the opening round against Rochestown, who had defeated us at under 15 level last year. After a close 1st half, the High School produced an excellent 2nd half display to win 1-11 to 0-6 with the performance of the backline in the 2nd half being the highlight.
In the ¼ final, the High School played Colaiste na Sceilge from south Kerry but showed no fear, working tirelessly for one another and again winning comfortably in the end by 2-13 to 1-3.
The ½ final was against Cork city’s Colaiste Chríost Rí, managed by Cork All-Star Paul Kerrigan. Despite them having 2 big midfielders, Paul Maher and Shane Lonergan dominated midfield and supplied excellent ball to the forwards who used it well and we ran out 1-17 to 0-7 winners in the end.
This final was due to be played before the Easter holidays on the 20th March, however disappointingly, PS Chorca Dhuibhne refused to turn up for the game and we seemed to lose momentum and unfortunately the final did not go our way but well done to Mr Gleeson, Mr Nugent, Brian White and the whole panel who put in such an effort all year.
Visit of Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper
Colm Cooper visited the school on the 8th of May and took a training session with the 16 & a half team. It was great to have the former Player of the Year, the winner of 7 All-Stars and 4 All-Irelands present here in the school as part of his work with Bank of Ireland.
Senior Football
The Senior team had a disappointing year, especially considering the talent that we had at our disposal but injuries and a lack of interest and application cost the team dearly.
Having had a great opening win against the North Clare Schools (4-14 to 1-5), unfortunately, we failed to advance from our Corn Uí Mhúirí group, as we were defeated by West Limerick Schools (1-9 to 0-9) and PS Chorca Dhuibhne (0-9 to 1-5) having been the better side on both days. One has to wonder what might have been as PS Chorca Dhuibne went on to win the Corn Uí Mhúirí.
In the County Championship, the Abbey were defeated but we played a strong Templemore team in the ½ final. Despite playing with 11 members of the under 16 and ½ team and only four 6th year pupils, we came very close to beating the All-Ireland B finalists and were unfortunate to lose.
County Minors
This year there are 16 county minor football panelists in the school this year, with 11 being on the Tipperary panel and 5 being on the Waterford panel.
Both counties had great wins in their opening Munster Championship matches and are awaiting their Munster Semi-Finals.
Tipperary panelists: Danny Owens, Kevin Fahey, Ross Mulcahy, Luke Boland, Michael Meagher, Paul Maher, Michael Connolly, Shane Lonergan, Eoin Kehoe, Tom Kirwan and Paudie White.
Waterford Panelists: Tomás Cooney, Dermot Ryan, Conor Gleeson, Jack Guiry and Gearóid Hearn.