First Corn Solo title for St Joseph’s

ST Joseph’s, Tulla won their first U-15C Corn Solo title in Charleville on Tuesday with victory over Rochestown College, Cork City. ST Joseph’s, Tulla won their first U-15C Corn Solo title in Charleville on Tuesday with victory over Rochestown College, Cork City.
The final scoreline flatters the winners, who opted to play against a slight breeze in the first half. After eight minutes, the Cork side had forged into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead. Arguably, the turning point occurred at this time when Michael Burke in the Tulla goal, displaying cat-like reflexes, somehow kept out a Cian Power close-range drive. This was a save to grace any Munster final and it sparked an improvement in Tulla’s play. Forceful play from Dan Vaughan, Emmet Gleeson and Con Smith gave the East Clare side a foothold in the game.
A very strong second quarter followed where team captain John O’Brien fired home two great goals and put another on a plate for wing-forward Darren Chaplin. This three-goal salvo meant that Tulla went towards half-time in a strong position. Colin Corbett tacked on four points, one from a free, to leave the half-time score at 3-5 to 1-6.
The East Clare school had the slight breeze at their back for the second half. Three points, the first from a Dan Vaughan free and then two fantastic solo efforts from Chaplin, increased the lead before the introduction of Eric Conway into the Tulla forward line. Conway had been a very influential sub throughout the year and marked his arrival with a high-class point from the left corner.
Cian Harrington broke free with pace for a fine goal and a point in the 10th and 11th minutes. The sole Cork reply was a Niall Fitzgerald penalty that he struck low to the net in the 14th minute. In the second half, the Tulla backline was on top throughout. Any hope of a Cork comeback was quashed with a Dan Vaughan 65’ and a fine solo effort from mid-fielder Ciarán Cooney, who grew increasingly dominant as the game progressed. Fittingly, the final goal of the game was scored by Colin Corbett, who was the top-scoring forward in the competition.
It was a good campaign for the Clare school, which consisted of victories over St Munchin’s, Cashel Community College after extra time, Doon CBS and St Anne’s, Killaloe.

St Joseph’s, Tulla: Michael Burke (Feakle); Niall McNamara (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Shane Keniry (Broadford), Evan McMahon (Feakle); Cathal Linnane (Feakle), Dan Vaughan (0-2f, Tulla), Martin Daly (Feakle); Ciarán Cooney (0-1 O Callaghan’s Mills), Emmet Gleeson (Tulla); Cian Harrington (1-1, Feakle), Con Smith (0-1, Feakle), Darren Chaplin (1-4, Broadford); John O’Brien (capt, 2-0, O’Callaghan’s Mills), Colin Corbett (1-6, 1f, Tulla), Sean Culligan (Crusheen).
Subs: Eric Conway (0-1, Feakle) for Culligan, M Torpey (Tulla) for Kiniry, E Donnellan (Broadford) for O’Brien, P Minogue (Feakle) for Linnane, C McNamara (Tulla) for Gleeson, M Vaughan (Tulla), S Considine (Tulla), O’Kelly (St Joseph’s), E McNamara (Tulla) and A Healy (Bodyke).
Referee: M Meade (Limerick).

At the April meeting of Clare GAA on Tuesday night, tributes were paid to the Tulla team and mentors on their success, on the proposal of Feakle delegate, Michael Daly.