Clonakilty must mind High School Clonmel in Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final

Clonakilty Community College get their Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign back underway tomorrow when they meet CBS High School Clonmel in the quarter-finals, with the winner going on to meet Presentation SS Milltown or St Pat’s Castleisland, depending on the outcome of their quarter-final.

Clon’s task this week is to navigate the last standing Tipperary school, who arrive with just one blemish on their record so far in their first year back at Corn Uí Mhuirí level; a second-round defeat to St Francis College, Rochestown.

High School were drawn in Group 1, and finished second in their group, behind the aforementioned Roco and a point ahead of Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, who they beat comfortably in the final round.

Played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, that contest swung decisively their way at the end of the first quarter.

Luke Foley slotted over a big two-point free from out wide to get High School going, while Finn Napier, Dylan McCormack, Conor Freaney and joint captains Mikey McGuire and Luke Hannigan would each find the net in their 5-13 to 3-11 win.

High School needed to get off the mark in their first round meeting with St Flannan’s College Ennis to have any chance of progression. Two Finn Napier goals and another from Killian Smith – Tipp minor footballer and brother of Tipperary senior Cian – ensured that they did, as the final score read 3-9 to 0-4.

Their only setback came against Rochestown. High School were in control at the interval, leading 1-9 to 1-2, but the second half unravelled.

Rochestown struck for three goals after the break, and despite solid contributions from Foley and Jamal Yousif, High School were limited to just four points in the second period as the game slipped away.

The response against Inbhear Scéine was emphatic, though, as they secured a place in the knockout stages.

Last year the school competed at the B grade, reaching the semi-final stage before losing out to Coláiste na Sceilge by a point, though they did win the U17 B title, ending a 55-year wait for Munster success.

Andrew Ryan, a Waterford minor and captain of that U17 winning team, has impressed in the group stages in defence. There’s a dual element at play for Clonmel, too, with the Tipp school also having competed in this season’s Dr Harty Cup.

Of the High School team that started in that Corn Uí Mhuirí defeat to Roco, eight of them featured against Midleton CBS in the Harty Cup, including Ryan, who started at full-back.

All but three starters against Roco were part of their Harty panel this year, as they were eliminated in the group stages.

Inaugural winners of the Corn Uí Mhuirí competition in 1928, neither High School, or any Tipp school for that matter, have won the cup since, though they did reach the 2016 final, only to lose out against a David Clifford led St Brendan’s Killarney team.

Clonakilty’s pedigree means they will enter this quarter-final as favourites, but High School Clonmel have already shown they are more than capable at this level, and dangerous if afforded space.