Abbey CBS 3.15
Cashel CS 1.05
In what was a battle of West Tipperary it was the Abbey School claimed the county PPS McGabhann Cup U19 ‘A’ football final in Fethard Town Park last Friday, defeating Cashel C.S on the scoreline of 3.15 to 1.05. In what had promised to be an intriguing affair between the sides who have claimed Munster football honours in three of the past four seasons, it would be the men from Tipperary Town who would blitz their Cashel opponents.
Playing wind assisted in the first half, Cashel struggled early on with the Abbey’s hard running game and the Abbey raced into a 1:05 to nil lead, with Solohead’s Faolan Doyle raising the day's opening green flag. The Cashel sides cause was not helped by injury to Fethard's Rory O’Mahoney early on. The Abbeys dominance continued with eye-catching scores from Dara O’Hora, Padraic O’Brien and Alex Webster for the Corn Ui Mhuiri side and the game was firmly in their hands at half time as they lead on a scoreline of 1:09 to 0:02.
The second half continued as the first had ended and on the 37th minute the game was decided as a contest when the Abbey scored their second goal of the game from Alex Webster. Cashel their credit battled bravely with Colin Bourke and Charlie Walsh most impressive. They were however no match for the men in greens and white who continued to keep the scoreboard moving with scores from Ciaran Kelly and Sean O’Mahoney.
The forwards can't take all the plaudits however as the Abbey launched numerous attacks from an excellent defence lead by Michael Bowes Sean Bourke and Paddy Chapman while at midfield the Arravale Rovers partnership of Adam and Evan Ryan excelled.
While the day was not to be Cashel CS they can take great comfort in the progress of football in their school this year having claimed the Munster B title, and with 2 other Tipperary school making the latter stage of that competition and the Abbey playing at A level, Tipperary colleges football continues to grow and make progress.
Captain Emmet Bonner accepted the cup from Tom Maher afterwards. This victory was a real team effort which saw the Abbey claim victory in what many of their sides will be last time representing the school something they have done with distinction over the last six years.
Abbey CBS: C McGrath (Oola); P O’Brien (Aherlow), M Bowes (Arravale Rovers); T O’Shea (Aherlow), D Bresnan (Arravale Rovers), E Bonner (Galtee Rovers), S Bourke (Aherlow); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), E Ryan (Arravale Rovers) D O’Hora (Solohead), S O’Mahony (Arravale Rovers), C Kelly (Arravale Rovers) A Webster (Arravale Rovers), F Doyle (Solohead), P Chapman (Aherlow) Subs: D Quigley (Arravale Rovers), J O’Keeffe (Arravale Rovers) E Slattery (Knockivalla Kickhams) J Serrano.
Cashel CS Evan O’Neill (Cashel King Cormacs); Adam Tobin (Clonmel Óg), Cian Lonergan (Golden Kilfeacle), Tom O’Driscoll (Knockavilla Kickhams); Rory O’Mahony (Fethard), Noah O’Flynn (Fethard), Seamus Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore); Colin Bourke (Rosegreen), Charlie Walsh (Fethard); Harry Fogarty (Golden Kilfeacle), Willie Colville (Rosegreen), Colm Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs); Niall Hallissey (Cashel King Cormacs), Ryan O’Sullivan (Clerihan), Bríain O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs)
