Harty Cup: Corbett drives St Joseph's Tulla to victory over Our Lady's Templemore

Matthew Corbett of  St Joseph's Tulla and Clare. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Harty Cup: St Joseph's Tulla 1-21 Our Lady's Templemore 3-12 

St Joseph’s Tulla came away with an impressive victory over Our Lady’s Templemore on a 1-21 to 3-12 scoreline in an exciting Harty Cup tie in Cappamore.

The Clare school were deserved victors with Matthew Corbett excelling in the middle of the park and coming away with a nine-point haul.

Tulla led by three at the break after Jerry O’Connor cancelled out Padraic O’Shea’s goal with one of his own just before the break.

Terence Fahy’s charges were the better team throughout the second half but were pegged back after goals from Phillip O’Dwyer and Cian Broderick.

However, Tulla held on and clinched the game late on with a sensational Michael Vaughan point, typifying their skill and endeavour.

The sides were level twice in the opening nine minutes but efforts from O’Connor and Corbett put Tulla two clear.

Scores from Cathal Leamy and a stunner from corner back Cian Maxted solidified Tulla’s advantage with O’Dwyer responding for Templemore.

O’Shea and Liam Murphy traded points before O’Shea landed the first goal of the contest after an error in the Tulla defence. That squared the game up at 1-4 to 0-7 with 17 minutes on the clock.

John O’Donnell restored Tulla’s lead moments after the goal but points from O’Shea and Jack Bevans saw Templemore hit the front for the first time.

It was to be a short-term advantage as Tulla responded with Corbett, Vaughan and Murphy all hitting the target.

Bevans made it a one-point game with a free in first half added time but O’Connor gave Tulla the advantage at the break when he finished to the net after Corbett’s defence-splitting run.

An O’Dwyer point finished the first half action to leave the score at 1-11 to 1-8 in Tulla’s favour at the break.

Tulla nullified Templemore’s attack in the early stages of the second half with Murphy and Corbett landing fine scores. Again, Bevans kept his side in touch from placed balls.

However, Tulla’s advantage was soon back at one-point after O’Dwyer pounced following Shay Gleeson’s long-range free.

The response from Tulla was quick and emphatic as O’Donnell and two from Corbett restored the gap to four.

Vaughan, Corbett and O’Donnell kept the scoreboard ticking over for Tulla in the latter stages but Broderick’s late shot to the net gave Templemore hope in added time.

That evaporated when Vaughan blocked down a Templemore clearance, picked himself off the ground and fired over the decisive score that sealed Tulla’s victory.

Scorers for St Joseph’s Tulla: M Corbett 0-9 (4f, 1 ’65), J O’Connor 1-1, L Murphy, J O’Donnell and M Vaughan 0-3 each, C Leamy and C Maxted 0-1 each.

Scorers for Our Lady’s Templemore: J Bevans 0-7 (6f), P O’Shea and P O’Dwyer 1-2 each, S Gleeson 0-1.

St Joseph’s Tulla: P Murphy (Tulla); C Maxted (Clooney-Quin), E Cooney (Tulla); D Greene (Clooney-Quin); H Nolan (Tulla), R Hayes (Rulla), L Moloney (Tulla); M Corbett (Clooney-Quin), M Vaughan (Broadford); O Perrill (Crusheen), J O’Connor (Clooney-Quin), C Leamy (Clooney-Quin); A O’Driscoll (Broadford), J O’Donnell (Broadford), L Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills).

Subs: J Moroney (O’Callaghan’s Mills) for Murphy (21, inj), M Fitzpatrick (Clooney-Quin) for Leamy (56), H Vaughan (Broadford) for O’Driscoll (63).

Our Lady’s Templemore: C Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney); D Hoare (Drom & Inch), N Delaney (JK Brackens), T Burke (JK Brackens); M Conroy (Drom & Inch), S Gleeson (Moneygall), B Collier (JK Brackens); C Broderick (JK Brackens), S Walsh (JK Brackens); J Marnell (JK Brackens), P O'Dwyer (Upperchurch-Drombane), J Bevans (Borris-Ileigh); P O’Shea (JK Brackens), J Ryan (Drom & Inch), D Coffey (JK Brackens).

Subs: S Burke (JK Brackens) for Coffey (48), K Martin (JK Brackens) for Marnell (58), J Burke (JK Brackens) for Gleeson (60, inj).

Referee: S Carey (Ahane).