Tulla celebrate All-Ireland success

St Joseph’s, Tulla 2-16
Scoil Mhuire, Trim 3-6

ST Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla, won the Senior D Post Primary Schools All-Ireland final defeating Scoil Mhuire of Trim in St Brendan’s Park, Birr, home to the first All-Ireland hurling final, on Saturday.

 

This match was played at a tremendous pace all the way through and both teams are to be commended for their commitment.
Trim were first on the attack and were unlucky not to have the opening score when Shona White’s shot was wide of the posts within the first minute.

Tulla put over the opening score in the second minute, a point by Aoife Dillon. They had a chance to add to their score when a high ball came across the square but the forwards just couldn’t connect and the ball went inches wide.
Trim scored their first point from a free through Shona White and from the puck-out referee, Cathal Egan penalised Pauline McNamara in the Tulla goal for stepping outside the 13m. Shona White slotted the resultant 45’. Both sides missed chances before Tulla put over two points by Kate O’Gorman, one from play after some lovely passing involving Mary-Kate Moloney and Aoife Dillon and the second a free. Aisling McNamara added another point from play to leave the Tulla girls in front 0-5 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.

In the next 10 minutes, Trim had their best spell when Aoife Minogue broke through and raised a green flag and after another of her great runs, passed to Kate Mulvihill, who didn’t miss from 5m.
Carolanne Foley also added a point to leave Trim in front by 2-3 to 0-5 facing into the last 10 minutes of the half.

Tulla fought back and Kate O’Gorman converted a free when Niamh Mulqueen was fouled when she looked to be through for a shot on goal. Mulqueen then put over a point from an acute angle and this was followed by a goal from Kate O’Gorman, who added to a delivery from Mary-Kate Moloney.

O’Gorman added two further points, one from a 45’, after Jayde Massey had deflected a shot that seemed destined for the net and the second point from play again from a cross near the endline that squeezed between the posts. Trim had two points during this period from Shona White. When the half-time whistle sounded, the Clare side was ahead by four points, 2-9 to 2-5.

Tulla started the second half with three unanswered points and they added another brace after the Meath school had pointed from a free. Trim’s scorer in chief, Shauna White, replied with their third goal but this proved to be their final score. Tulla added two points from Kate O’Gorman to seal a great victory.
They were especially well served by Aoife Tuohy at full-back and Mary-Kate Moloney in midfield, with a player-of-the-match performance from full-forward Kate O’Gorman.

Tulla mentor Declan Spellman said after the game they were thrilled and delighted with the win. “It was the 10 minutes before half-time that won it for Tulla when they went from four points down to lead by four at the break.”
Tulla officials and supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed that this is the first of a double for the school this week.

The school’s junior team will return to Birr on this Saturday to play the same opposition in the All-Ireland junior final.

St Joseph’s, Tulla: Pauline McNamara (Kilkishen); Siobhán Tuohy (Feakle); Aoife Tuohy (Feakle); Collette Purcell (Feakle); Kathy Halpin (Clooney Quin); Shauna Fleming (Kilkishen) (captain); Lisa McGrath (Feakle); Mary Kate Moloney (Feakle); Regan Conway (Feakle); Clodagh O’Halloran (Kilkishen); Aisling McNamara (Tulla, 0-1); Aoife Dillon (Broadford, 0-3); Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford, 0-2); Kate O’Gorman (Kilkishen, 2-10); Áine McInerney (Kilkishen).
Subs: Vivienne Peek (Broadford for Kathy Halpin, half-time); Ellen Duggan (Feakle for Áine McInerney (50 mins); Ellen Culloo (Tulla for Clodagh O’Halloran (55 mins).
Scoil Mhuire, Trim: Jayde Massey, Niamh McEvoy, Maebh Smyth, Katie Maguire, Cara Foley, Grace Colman, Suzy Kennedy, Emma Coffey, Carolanna Foley (0-1), Aoife Minogue (2-0), Susan Kealy, Laura Dempsey, Alannah Hannon, Shona White (1-5), Kate Mulvihill.
Subs: Ciara Donoghue for Suzy Kennedy (half-time); Caroline McLoughlin for Alannah Hannon (45 mins).
Referee: Cathal Egan, Cork.