St Flannan’s defeat Tulla to meet Tipp opposition in Harty Cup final

*All photos by Ruth Griffin

A STRONG final quarter showing by St. Flannans College, Ennis paved the way for their merited win over St. Josephs Tulla in the Dr Harty cup, Munster colleges senior A hurling, semi-final tie played at Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog in Ennis on this Saturday afternoon.

St. Flannans 2-19 St. Josephs, Tulla 3-11

In the final on Saturday January 31, they will face Nenagh CBS who accounted for Thurles CBS by the minimum margin in the other semi-final which was played at Templederry at the same time.

The finalists met in the opening round of the competition back in October when a draw was the outcome.

Tulla led by three points at half time, 2-9 to 0-12 and they extended their advantage to five early in the second half but from here on St. Flannans dictated matters and the East Clare school went twenty four minutes without a score.

Tulla were forced to re-arrange their line up after just four minutes when influential centre back Ryan Hayes suffered a leg injury. After receiving attention he resumed in attack with Matthew Corbett moving to defence. Although clearly struggling, Hayes caused problems for he winner’s defence. He contributed a point and helped set up some scores but as the game progressed his influence faded, clearly hampered by the injury

The early exchanges were even with the sides exchanging points three times in thee opening ten minutes. St. Josephs then pushed two clear but the winners were back on level terms at 0-6 each by the twentieth minute before taking the lead for the first time a minute later through Darragh McNamara.

Tulla scored two goals in the first half to help the East Clare school to a three-point lead at half time. Photo by Ruth Griffin

A minute after this score S. Josephs struck for the game’s first goal, Matthew Corbett’s long range free being dropped by St Flannans goalkeeper Leon Talty. James O’Donnell followed with a point and the Tulla side were a goal clear, 1-7 to 0-7.

St. Flannans replied with two pointed frees from Harry Doherty and then the side’s exchanged points before Tulla struck for their second goal which came from Liam Murphy. Again, St Fllannans responded with a brace of points before the half time whistle sounded with Tulla leading 2-9 to 0-12.

While the Ennis school had the majority of the play on the resumption it was their opponents who scored first with Matthew Corbett and team captain Michael Vaughan pointing to stretch their lead to five.

Both sides made changes during the next five minutes which were scoreless. At the mid point of the half Darragh McNamara struck for St. Flannans’ first goal and this score brought them to within a a point of their opponents.

St. Josephs had a goal chance a minute later but St. Flannans centre back James Cullinan made a vital tackle on Nicky Belenco. The Ennis side launched an attack which ended with Thomas O’Connor shooting to the net to give the team a lead they would hold to the finish.

They followed with five unanswered points from Graham Ball, Patrick Finneran, Harry Doherty and one each from substitutes John Barry and Ben Talty.

Jerry O’Connor’s goal for Tulla which came after Matthew Corbett’s free had been saved, was too late to deny St Flannans victory.

Centre back James Cullinan was particularly impressive in the second half for the winners while Graham Ball, Harry Doherty, Eoin O’Connor, Darragh McNamara and John Barry all made valuable contributions.

Matthew Corbett, Ryan Hayes, Patrick Murphy and James O’Donnell worked hard for St. Josephs but St Flannans’ overall balance proved too much o n the day

Scorers; St. Flannans; Harry Doherty (0-7, 5f); Thomas O’Connor, Darragh McNamara (1-1) each; Graham Ball, Eoin O’Connor (0-3) each; Parick Finneran (0-2) John Barry, Ben Talty (0-1) each;

St. Josephs, Tulla; Matthew Corbett \(1-5, 0-4 f); James O’Donnell (0-3) Jerry O’Connor, Liam Murphy (1-0) each; Ryan Hayes, Michael Vaughan, Cathal Leamy (0-1) each

St. Flannans College;

1; Leon Talty, St. Josephs;

4; Darragh Murrihy, Inagh-Kilnamona

3; Sean McNamara, Clooney-Quin

2; Conor Hill, Ballyea;

5; Darragh Ball, St. Josephs

6; James Cullinan, Ruan

7; Colm Daly, St. Josephs;

9; Isaac Hasset, Clooney-Quin,

12; Rory Ralph, Clarecastle;

8; Graham Bal, St. Josephs

11; Patrick Finneran, Cooney-Quin,