Munster glory for St Joseph’s Tulla

ST JOSEPH’S TULLA claimed the FAI Schools u17 Munster Junior Trophy after edging out reigning champions MICC Dunmanway.

St Joseph’s Tulla 3
MICC Dunmanaway 2
(after extra time)
Venue: Mounthawk Park, Tralee

A brace from Darragh Baker and a goal from Alan Glowski sealed the victory for the Tulla school side on Thursday last.

Both sides had a couple of half chances early in the game but both defences were well marshalled. However, MICC Dunmanway soon took control of the match in the first half as they took the lead and then doubled their advantage soon after with a two fine strikes from outside of the box by the brilliant Ryan Daly. The first goal was a 30 yard lob and the second cannoned into the top left corner, both leaving Tulla goalkeeper Gearoid Austin with no chance.

With the West Cork side leading 2-0, their aspirations of maintaining this lead to half-time came undone when Callum Casey burst forward on the left wing and whipped in a pinpoint cross, which was met and turned into the goal by Alan Glowski via a deflection off a MICC Dunmanway defender.

On the restart, Casey continued to pepper the penalty box with crosses, creating a series of half chances but the MICC Dunmaway defence stood firm. Centre backs Luke Holland and Jamie Dullea in particular were superb throughout the game for the West Cork School.

As the game ticked towards full time and with fatigue setting in, St. Joseph’s Tulla started to take control of the final moments of the second half. However, with the MICC Dunmanway defence defending well it looked most likely that the reigning champions would retain the title.

A dramatic equaliser then turned the game on its head. The goal came from a tremendous strike from the lively Darragh Baker whose shot cannoned off the crossbar and hit the MICC Dumanway goalkeeper before the ball dribbled towards the goal line and just crossed the line.

In extra-time both sides had chances to win the game with Conor Vassallo going close for MICC Dunmanway and Conor McFadden’s shot for St. Joseph’s Tulla went narrowly wide. However, it was the Clare side that would have the final say in the game. With the thought of a dreaded penalty shoot-out now looming over both sides, St. Jospeh’s Tulla’s Darragh Baker unleashed a tremendous effort from the edge of the box which nestled into the bottom right corner of the net.

Winning managers Ultan Mulqueen and Padraig Kelly were delighted with the victory and stated that they “could not be more proud of their school’s amazing group of players”.

St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla Squad: Gearoid Austin, Adam Kilker, Alan Glowski, Callum Casey, Colin Duff, Conor McFadden, Conor Murphy, Conor O’Brien, Conor Walsh, Darragh Walsh, Darragh Baker, Evan Byrnes, Liam Whelan, Frankie O’Sullivan, Glen McNamara, Donal Culloo, Mark Davoren, Michael O Donoghue, Alex Guilfoyle, Ciaran Collins, Daniel Cleary, Ben O Halloran, Eimhin Kinsella, Krystian Grzonkowski, Ronan O’Connell, Oisin Penston, Luke Canny, Emmet Slattery, Darragh Duane, John Paul Murphy, Colm Meade and Matthew Molloy.

MICC Dunmanway Squad: Shane O’Sullivan, Daire Hurley, Kenny Kingston, Jamie Dullea (C), Luke Holland, Matthew Hurley, Conor Bradfield, Liam Daly, Conor Horgan, Conor Vassallo, Euan Lehane, Padraic Hegarty, Shaun O’Connell, Levi Bosma, Ryan Daly, Óige Walsh, Niall Owens, Eoin Hurley and Ronan White.