Hermitage B secure second-division status

Tulla United B 2   Hermitage B 2
(Hermitage B won 4-3 on penalties)

HERMITAGE B retained their second-division status for next season following victory over Tulla United B in a promotion/relegation play-off at the County Grounds on Sunday.
The Ennis side dominated the first half and were two goals clear at half-time thanks to strikes from Danny Russell and Ritchie O’Grady.
The Tage came out for the second half without central defender Robert Ford and his absence proved a big blow to the side.
Tulla had the better of the second-half exchanges and hit back with goals from Shane McNamara and Keith Walsh to force the game into extra time.
The East Clare side continued to hold the upperhand in the extra period when Eoin Slattery in the Hermitage goal produced a couple of excellent saves to keep his team in the race.
In the penalty shoot-out, Brian McMahon scored the town side’s first but Cathal Keane had his effort saved. However, Ritchie O’Grady and Chris O’Riordan were successful with their efforts before substitute Shane Talty struck for the winning goal.
For Tulla, who used three goalkeepers in this tie, Cathal Dinan, John Brigdale and Martin Floyd scored from the penalty spot but Alan Leamy and Keith Lenihan had their efforts saved.
Tulla lost first-choice goalie Darragh Kelly to injury after twenty minutes. He was replaced by John Horne who picked up an injury and was unable to continue for the penalty shoot-out. 

Hermitage B: Eoin Slattery; Cyril Casey, Robert Ford, Danny Russell, Chris O’Riordan; Francis Franks, Cathal Keane, Brian McMahon, Noel Frawley, Robert Downes, Ritchie O’Grady.
Subs: Michael Singleton, Neil Mulqueen, Shane Talty.
Tulla Untied B: Darragh Kelly; Declan Curran, Phil Browne, Brendan Hannon, John O’Hagan, Shane McNamara, John Brigdale, Gerry Ryan, Cathal Dinan, Martin Floyd, Keith Walsh.
Subs: John Horne for Kelly (inj), Alan Leamy for Ryan; Keith Lenihan for McNamara (inj).