The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Munster post primary U-15B hurling semi-final
St Joseph’s Tulla 8-13 Colaiste Colm, Ballincollig 3-21
(After Extra time)
Eleven goals and 34 points in a schools game suggests a memorable battle and indeed it was as St Joseph’s required a barrage of goals to stay in contention against capable opponents from Ballincollig before two extra time goals sealed the return to the final for 2024
St Joseph’s Tulla managed by Kilmaley’s Darragh McMahon are the reigning champions of this grade and next Wednesday will attempt a rare two in a row at this grade when the Clare school face CBC, Cork who are in many hurling follower’s opinions the favourites for the crown.
The game was on just three minutes and both sides had struck for goal with Hugh Vaughan and the very impressive Bobby Power on the mark for their respective sides. Colaiste Colm who had the strong wind at their backs threatened to overrun the Clare school in the first quarter adding eight points in this period with Power, Billy Meighan and Cormac Murphy on the scoresheet. St Joseph’s were indeed fortunate not to concede four goals in the first half. Tulla, against the run of play struck for goal number two as Hugh Vaughan was on hand for this vital score to keep his side in touch. Cormac Murphy, Bobby Power added Colaiste Colm points before Patrick Murphy or PM as is known unleashed a shot that lifted the Ballincollig net and amazingly 30 seconds later Cian Maxted who looks one for the future and James O’ Donnell set up Cathal Ryan for goal number four and now the East Clare school sneaked one point clear. Bobby Power (3) and Dylan McCarthy (1-0) lifted the seize on the Cork goal to leave Colaiste Colm (2-13) to (4-2) ahead at the end of the opening half.
Patrick Murphy named at full forward spent the game out the field and scored the first score of the new half before Colaiste Colm had goal number three from Dylan McCarthy to surge (3-14) to (4-3) ahead. St Joseph’s hit four wides in two minutes before James O’ Donnell had Tulla’s fifth goal. Vaughan and Power traded points as the tempo of the game was increasing as Tulla with the wind could not build up a lead of substance and Colaiste Colm were staying in contention as a result with the mercurial Joe Miskella, Bobby Power and Billy Meighan amongst others holding sway.
Patrick Murphy was upended in the Colaiste Colm goal and the resultant penalty taken by Vaughan was well saved by Caden Coomey. For the remainder of the final quarter scores for either side was at a premium but the level of performance by both sides was exemplarly with Power and Patrick Murphy on target late on to force extra time on a (3-17) to (6-8) scoreline.
Tulla were against the wind for the first half of extra time with Hugh Vaughan scoring two in a row as Billy Meighan hit back for Colaiste Colm. At half time a four point lead was held by Tulla and despite a strong effort from Ballincollig they could not cope with two extra time goals from Vaughan and imfluential substitute Brian Conheady to send Tulla racing into a bid to retain the title hard won in 2023.
Best for St Joseph’s most certainly was the brilliant calmness of Jamie Moroney in goal. Owen Shanahan, Oisin Slattery, Cian Maxted was dominant at time at the heart of the Tulla defence and Diarmuid O’ Rourke were leaders in the defence. Jamie O’ Donnell, Patrick Murphy, scorer in chief Hugh Vaughan and Cathal Ryan led the way up front for the winners.
St Joseph’s Tulla scorers Hugh Vaughan (4-7), Patrick Murphy (1-4), James O’ Donnell, Brian Conheady (1-1) each, Cathal Ryan (1-0).
St Josephs: Jamie Moroney (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Odhran Perrill (Crusheen), Owen Shanahan (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Paul McMahon (Clooney/Quin), Oisin Slattery (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Cian Maxted (Clooney/Quin), Diarmuid O’ Rourke (Tulla), James O’ Donnell (Broadford), Marcus Fitzpatrick (Clooney/Quin), Eoin O’ Connor (Clooney/Quin), Cathal Ryan (Sixmilebridge), Morgan Culloo (Tulla), Hugh Vaughan (Broadford), Patrick Murphy (Tulla), Niky Belenko (Tulla). Subs: Brian Conheady (Tulla) for Culloo, Oisin Considine (Clooney/Quin) for Eoin O’ Connor.
Colaiste Colm Ballincollig scorers; Bobby Power (1-8), Dylan McCarthy (2-0), Billy Meighan (0-5), Ronan Lenihan (0-2), Cathal Murphy, Joe Miskella (0-1) each.
Colaiste Colm: Caden Coomey, Liam Gaffney, Cillian Healy, Cormac Aherne, Eoin Harris, Jack Costello, Eanna Harney, Cathal Murphy, Joe Miskella, Cormac Murphy, Billy Meighan, Ronan Lenihan, Bobby Power, Dylan McCarthy, Evan Stack. Subs: Cillian McDonald, Eanna Lynch, Fionn Walsh.
