St Joseph’s win spot in Corn Solo final

St Joseph’s Tulla 4-13  St Anne’s Killaloe 2-8

St Joseph’s Tulla booked a date in the Corn Solo, Munster Colleges U-15 hurling final when they defeated St Anne’s, Killaloe at Scariff on Wednesday afternoon.
Michael O’Shea goaled for the Killaloe outfit a minute before the end of the third quarter to leave just a point between the teams and everything pointed to a cracking last quarter.
However, this goal sparked a strong response from Tulla and they went on to dominate the remaining time, outscoring their opponents, 1-8 to 0-1.
The winners, who opted to play against the breeze in the first half, got off to a dream start and were 2-2 in front after just six minutes, the goals coming from Colin Corbett and Sean Culligan.
In these early stages, their full-forward line caused lots of problems for the Killaloe defence and the indications were that they would score a runaway win.
As the half wore on, St Anne’s settled and came more into the game and a goal from full-forward Seamus Downey proved a big boost. This was cancelled out a few minutes later when Corbett blasted a 20m free to the net but they weren’t to score in the last 12 minutes of the half.
In this period, St Anne’s had three points and when the half time whistle sounded, the score stood at 3-4 to 1-5.
There was much more urgency in the Killaloe school’s display when the second half got underway and two early points from Caimin Quigley left just a goal between the teams.
Sean Culligan pointed for the winners in the 10th minute but when O’Shea took a pass from Downey on the way to scoring St Anne’s second goal, everything pointed to a storming finish.
The Tulla side came to life and they responded with points from Corbett, Ciaran Cooney, Darren Chaplin and Cian Harrington to go seven clear with time almost  up.
In the final minute of normal time, a Colin Corbett effort from a 70m free went all the way to the net to put a more flattering gloss on the final scoreline.

St Joseph’s, Tulla: Michael Burke (Feakle), Niall McNamara (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Shane Keniry (Broadford), Evan McMahon (Feakle); Cathal Linnane (Feakle), Daniel Vaughan (Tulla), Martin Daly (Feakle); Emmet Gleeson (Tulla), Ciaran Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills); Cian Harrington (Feakle), Con Smith (Feakle), Darren Chaplin (Broadford); Sean Culligan (Crusheen), Colin Corbett (Tulla), John O’Brien (O’Callaghan’s Mills) captain.
Subs: Eoin Conway (Feakle), Craig McNamara (Tulla), Conor Donlon (Broadford).
Scorers: Colin Corbett (3-6), Sean Culligan (1-1), Eoin Conway (0-2), John O’Brien, Darren Chaplin, Cian Harrington, Ciaran Cooney (0-1) each.
St Anne’s, Killaloe: Adrian Power (Ballina); Jamie Collins (Ballina), Jack Orme (Ogonnelloe), Nathan Wood (Smith O’Brien’s); Eoin Mason (Broadford), Vincent Lyons (Smith O’Brien’s), Andrew Duggan (Portroe); Conor McGuire (Ballina), Thomas Conway (Ballina); Fionain O’Brien (Clonlara); Shane Moloney (Smith O’Brien’s), Michael O’Shea (Smith O’Brien’s); Caimin Quigley (Smith O’Brien’s), Seamus Downey (Clonlara), Tommy Reddan (Smith O’Brien’s).
Subs: Ronan Burke (Ballina); Ronan Haskett (Clonlara).
Scorers: Caimin Quigley (0-6), Seamus Downes (1-1), Michael O’Shea (1-0), Fionan O’Brien (0-1).