A PERFORMANCE brimming with character saw St Josephโs Tulla advance to their first ever Harty Cup final.
St Josephโs Tulla 0-20
De La Salle 1-13
Venue: Mallow GAA Complex
Producing a strong finish egged on by their large cohort of supporters saw a spirited St Josephโs gain revenge on De La Salle, the Waterford side had prevailed in their first round clash.
Among the lessons learned in that outing from the Tulla perspective was the ability of De La Salleโs Patrick Fitzgerald. With that in mind, the promising Adam Hogan was given the task of marshalling the Ballygunner sharpshooter, the Feakle man limited his counterpart to 0-02 from play.
It was at the beginning and end of the tie that Tulla were most impressive. They leaked 1-01 inside the first two minutes but it didnโt deter them, in the concluding quarter they conceded a single point while outscoring De La Salle 0-07 0-01.
By the first water break, St Josephโs led 0-08 1-02, Sean Withycombe and OโCallaghans Mills duo Fionn Hickey and Colm Cleary opening their account. But on the restart, De La Salle settled with Jack Twomey adding to his tally with both Fitzgerald and Cormac Cantwell also raising white flags to put them one point clear at the sounding of the half-time whistle.
Withycombe was first to score in the second half but De La Salle replied with the next three points to maintain their advantage when the sides retreated for the final waterbreak.
Buoyed on by their supporters, it was the Tulla players that took control as they gathered in a huddle. It was a sign of things to come with the East Clare outfit coming to live when the need was greatest.
Feakleโs Oisin Clune levelled matters on fifty three minutes while Tulla took the lead in the next attack following an excellent Fionn Hickey point. Withycombe and Fitzgerald traded frees before the St Josephโs centre forward tipped over two more placed balls to secure a historic and memorable win in Mallow.
For Terence Fahyโs side, Sean Withycombe, Adam Hogan, Fionn Hickey, Ronan OโConnor, Oisin Clune and Fionn Ryan were to the fore throughout. Their reward is not alone the chance to create history by claiming the provincial title but also to silence Ard Scoil Ris in a fortnightโs time.
Scorers St Josephโs Tulla: S Withycombe (0-15 12f), F Hickey (0-02), C Cleary (0-01), R OโConnor (0-01), O Clune (0-01).
Scorers De La Salle: P Fitzgerald (0-11 9f), J Twomey (1-01), C Cantwell (0-01).
St Josephโs Tulla:
1: Aaron Shanahan (Tulla)
4: Fionn Ryan (Tulla)
6: Tony Leyden (Tulla)
2: Dara Ryan (Tulla)
5: Mikey McMahon (OโCallaghans Mills)
3: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
7: Oisin Clune (Feakle)
9: Daragh Keogh (Clooney/Quin)
8: Ronan OโConnor (Feakle)
10: Oisin OโConnor (Feakle)
11: Seรกn Withycombe (Tulla)
12: Fionn Hickey (OโCallaghans Mills)
15: Eoghan McMahon (Crusheen)
18: Conor OโDonnell (Broadford)
13: Colm Cleary (OโCallaghans Mills)
Subs:
17: Evan Maxted (Clooney/Quin) for OโDonnell (47)
De La Salle:
1: Cian Troy (Ballygunner)
4: Conor Keane (De La Salle)
3: Craig OโKeeffe (Ballygunner)
2: Kieran OโSullivan (De La Salle)
5: Aaron OโNeill (Ballygunner)
6: Paraic Murphy (Mooncoin)
7: Rory Dobbyn (Ballyduff Lower)
9: Cormac Cantwell (Ballygunner)
8: Kealan Furlong (Ballygunner)
10: Sam Pender (Roanmore)
11: Paddy Fitzgerald (Ballygunner)
12: James Alyward (Mooncoin)
13: Jack Twomey (De La Salle)
14: Alex Keane (De La Salle)
15: Darragh Nolan (Ballygunner)
Subs:
18: Conor Tobin (Ballygunner) for Nolan (22)
25: Oran Hartney (Oranmore) for Keane (53)
17: Luke Horgan (Ballygunner) for Pender (53)
20: Eoin McSweeney (Ballygunner) for Tobin (56)
19: Donnacadh Williams (Keane) (60)
Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)
