Harty Cup: Perrill's late heroics rescue draw for Tulla against Lismore

Lismore led by four points with two minutes of normal time to play before Perrill came up trumps for Tulla

Odhrán Perrill scored a crucial late goal for St Joseph's Tulla in their Harty Cup draw with Blackwater Community School Lismore. Pic: Clubber TV

Dr Harty Cup: St Joseph's, Tulla 1-16 Blackwater Community School, Lismore 2-13

Odhrán Perrill struck a late goal and an injury-time equaliser as St Joseph’s Tulla recovered from four points down to draw with Blackwater Community School, Lismore, in their Harty Cup opener.

There were two minutes of normal time left at Solohead when Shane Landers extended Blackwater's lead to four points but just seconds later Perrill struck for a Tulla goal. Goalkeeper Patrick Murphy's long puckout slipped through the Blackwater defence with Crusheen midfielder Perrill racing onto the ball and striking off his left to the bottom corner. A minute later, corner forward James O'Donnell got Tulla level with a point from play.

That parity did not last long as Seán Óg Costin, taking over free-taking duties from Finn O'Connor, got his first score of the game to put Blackwater ahead with the clock 30 seconds into injury time. Just 15 seconds later, Perrill got the equaliser for Tulla, taking advantage of a breaking ball off another long puckout from Murphy to make it 1-16 to 2-13.

Tulla had started the game brightly, getting the first five scores with Hugh Vaughan's accuracy from dead-balls key. Broadford's Vaughan scored 0-6 in all. However, they went 14 minutes without a score as Blackwater found a way into the game through Lismore duo Landers and Finn O'Connor. Tulla led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time.

Blackwater drew level with the game’s first goal in the 35th minute when goalkeeper Mikey Ware's long puck from his own full-back line landed directly in Murphy's net, the Tulla keeper blinded by the sun. Murphy made amends shortly after when he brilliantly saved a penalty from O'Connor. The Blackwater centre-forward scored the resulting 65 to put his side two points ahead.

Tulla hit back with three consecutive points, two scored by James O'Donnell and a free from Vaughan. O'Connor and Vaughan traded frees before Ruaidhrí Duffin got Blackwater's second goal. A Landers ball to Costin in the full-forward line was laid off to Duffin and he found the net to put Blackwater 2-9 to 0-12 ahead.

Frees from Murphy and Vaughan got Tulla back to within a point but Kealan Dunne and O'Connor re-established that three-point lead for Blackwater. Landers made it four but then Perrill came up trumps for Tulla to get the draw.