The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
U-15B Hurling final
Tulla 1-12
Crusheen/Tubber 1-5
A spirited showing by Crusheen/Tubber troubled but ultimately did not upset Tulla as they held on with a dominant second half showing to ensure a Feile and county championship double to bookend their hurling season, writes Michael O’Connor.
Late October weather and a bad version of same greeted both teams onto the hallowed surface of Cusack Park on Thursday evening for this renewal of the Under 15B championship, Tulla who were the unbackable favourites for this title since the turn of the year took on the side they dispatched with ease in the Feile B final in Caherlohan in mid Spring. Due to the conditions and the A final at 745 this game started five minutes earlier in a wise move by referee Robert Harte.
The game was on 10 seconds and Cathal McNamara who is tremendous dual player having led St Breckans to 15B football glory blasted past Patrick Murphy after a powerful run and set up by Alex Guilfoyle. Crusheen/Tubber were thankful for the wet conditions as a ball deceived Oscar Brigdale but stuck in the water. Tulla with Nicolai Belenko at corner forward struck for two scores in the 8th minute before Odhran Perrill and Cillian O’Meara with two narrow angled scores restored a three point Crusheen/Tubber advantage after 10 minutes.
Crusheen/Tubber added another point as Tulla were camped in their own half of the field until the 18th minute and in arrears by 4 points. Eimhin Kinsella reduced the margin to three a Tulla appeared to gain more possession. A huge moment in the first half saw Oscar Brigdale engineer a superb save from a Marc Walshe penalty. 10 more minutes of action as the deluge of rain slowed down as the only score before half time fell to Marc Walshe to leave Crusheen/Tubber 1-3 to 0-4 ahead.
It was clear that Crusheen were making little of pregame suggestions of a Tulla rout as the East Clare side now realised that early season form means little at final time. Noel Conheady’s charges came out firing for the second half as John Paul Murphy pointed in the first minute. There was a sense that Tulla were controlling midfield as Crusheen/Tubber were no longer raiding down the wings as in the first half with March Walshe an increasingly influential figure. Cillian O’Meara appeared for long juncture the sole ball winner and carrier for Crusheen/Tubber. He won a free scored by Malachy O’Halloran which was Crusheen/Tubber’s first scored free of the day. Marc Walsh (2) left Tulla 1-7 to 1-5 in front at the end of the third quarter. Tulla were attacking with some power the Crusheen/Tubber puck out as Marc Walshe made it three in a row. A brilliant effort from substitute Micheal Rochford and another fine score from Micheal Rochford as the rain appeared once more left Tulla 1-10 to 1-5 ahead after 55 minutes.
There was little else that Crusheen/Tubber could manufacture in terms of a comeback as they had extended way beyond expectations their performance on the day but for Tulla they were not finished their strong second half performance. Marc Walshe and Louis Jennings rounded off the scoring with two splendid efforts as Riain O’Donnell saw a late effort for a goal from a placed ball saved on the line before Tulla were declared champions.
The champions were served well by Patrick Murphy, Mattie Molloy, Harry Nolan, Louis Jennings, Nicolai Belenko, man of the hour Marc Walshe, Eimhin Kinsella and John Paul Murphy. Crusheen/Tubber had good showings from Oscar Brigdale, Johnny Lyons, Riain O’Donnell, Malachy O’Halloran, their most effective performer Cathal McNamara and the hard-working Cillian O’Meara.
Tulla scorers: Marc Walshe (0-5), John Paul Murphy (1-1), Nicolai Belenko (0-2), Micheal Rochford, Louis Jennings, Liam Og O’Meara, Eimhin Kinsella (0-1) each
Tulla: Patrick Murphy, Jack Benson, Mattie Molloy, Joe Clune, Paddy McPartland, Harry Nolan, Morgan Culloo, Louis Jennings, Nicolai Belenko, Marc Walshe, Eimhin Kinsella, John Paul Murphy, Brian Conheady, Liam Og O’Meara, Finn McConnologue. Subs: Micheal Rochford for McConnologue, Milo Leyden for Culloo, Cathal Rochford for Belenko, Almas Crowe for O’Meara
Crusheen/Tubber scorers: Cathal McNamara (1-0), Cillian O’Meara (0-2), Odhran Perrill, Riain O’Donnell, Malachy O’Halloran (0-1) each
Crusheen/Tubber: Oscar Brigdale, Finian Sheehan, Tadgh Curran, Paddy Harkin, Cathal Lyons, Johnny Lyons, Donnacha O’Loughlin, Alex Guilfoyle, Riain O’Donnell, Malachy O’Halloran, AJ Conway, Odhran Perrill, Cathal McNamara, David Meaney, Cillian O’Meara. Subs: Eoghan O’Donnell for Perrill, Jamie Keehan for Conway, Jake Wherret for C Lyons, Ronan O’Sullivan
Referee: Robert Harte (St Senan’s)
