Munster C title for St Joseph’s hurlers

St Joseph’s, Tulla 4-12
Presentation, Ballingarry 0-8

St Joseph’s, Tulla captured the U-16½ Munster C hurling title last week with a great win over Presentation, Ballingarry.

Played in Templederry in windy conditions, the Tulla side put in a spirited hour of hurling to bring the title back to the school for the first time since 1996.
Tulla lost the toss and played with the aid of a gale in the first half. The Tipperary side were faster to settle and after 15 minutes were four points to two ahead, with Tulla guilty of squandering a number of good chances. The Tulla points came from Aidan O’Gorman and Donal O’Halloran.
At this stage, Ballingarry’s centre-forward, Cathal Horan, was having a serious influence on the match and, indeed by half-time, he had amassed all of their seven points, with three from dead balls and four from play. Strong hurling from Kevin O’Callaghan, Eoin McInerney and Dan McNamara kept the damage to a minimum at the back.
In the 18th minute, Peter Duggan crashed home a great goal and this was the catalyst for a great spell of hurling up to half-time from the East Clare school. Points followed from Peter Duggan and Padraig Brady before Jamie Lynch, who was causing havoc at full-forward, gave a fantastic pass to O’Halloran, who smashed it to the net. Tulla now had the breathing space they needed.
The half-time score was 2-9 to 0-7, with the gale to come for the Tipperary side. They took the first score of the second half to reduce the deficit to seven and with their puck-outs landing on the Tulla 21-yard line, a serious battle looked on the cards. However, Lynch again took the initiative and struck a great goal. This, and the loss of their influential midfielder Eoin Fennelly to injury, killed off the Tipperary hopes.
With their tails up, Tulla began to hurl with style. One of the highlights of the half was a Peter Duggan sideline into the wind from 55 yards after 46 minutes. Duggan had a great game, contributing 1-9 from placed balls and play. He was aided greatly by outstanding team captain, Shane McGrath at midfield and Lynch at full-forward.
Afterwards, Eamon Moroney (Scariff), chairman of the Munster Colleges council, presented the cup to Shane McGrath.

Tulla: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Gareth Bleach (Whitegate), Kevin O’Callaghan (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Daniel McNamara (O’Callaghan’s Mills); Darren Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Seán O’Gorman (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Eoin McInerney (O’Callaghan’s Mills); Shane McGrath (Feakle), Daire Kelly (Clooney/Quin); Damian Kiniry (Broadford), Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin, 1-9, 0-4f), Padraig Brady (Killanena, 0-1); Donal O’Holleran (St Joseph’s, Doora-Barefield, 1-1), Jamie Lynch (O’Callaghan’s Mills, 2-0), Aidan O’Gorman (O’Callaghan’s Mills).
Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for O’Halloran, Cathal Lenihan for A O’Gorman, Cathal Bolton for Lynch, Chris McEvoy for McInerney and Colm Loughnanne for Duggan.

Ballingarry: M Mullally; D O’Halloran, W O’Brien, R Meagher; B Delahunty, S Doheny, R Cashin; G Maher, E Fennelly; E Needham, C Horan, F O’Donovan; E Touhy, N Kearney, B Gleeson.
Subs: N Walsh for O’Halloran, G Fennelly for R Maher, M Slattery for F O’Donovan and F O’Donovan for Eoin Fennelly (inj).