Castletroy College downed by St Joseph's Tulla in Harty Cup clash

GAA Coverage in association with Lyons of Limerick Ford

CASTLETROY College lost their second successive Dr Harty Cup game after falling to a 2-16 to 0-9 defeat to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla in Cratloe this Wednesday afternoon.

The Clare school were worthy winners in a game that saw goals in each half from James O’Donnell and Niki Belenko.

The defeat to Tulla is follows up their two-point defeat to St Colman’s College in Round 1 of the competition.

St Joseph’s got off to a quick start with scores from Odhran Perill and Hugh Vaughan but Castletroy eventually found their feet with a Fergal Ó Duinn effort.

Vaughan then sent over two frees to increase the St Joseph’s advantage and then Castletroy were hit by a James O’Donnell goal on 11 minutes.

The impressive Broadford forward ghosted through a number of challenges before slotting the ball beyond Brian Halley for the opening goal.

Cian McCarthy replied with two frees for Castletroy College but an O’Donnell score from play kept St Joseph’s on top.

An excellent Shane Moloughney strike from distance brough the gap back to four on 19 minutes and a fine John Sheahan point then had Castletroy back to within three.

Mark McGrath and McCarthy traded scores heading up to half time with Castletroy College well in the contest, trailing by 1-6 to 0-6.

Any hopes of a rally in the second half were soon dispelled as St Joseph’s wrestled full control in the third quarter.

Louis Jennings, Vaughan, Donnacha Lenihan, Eoin O’Connor and O’Donnell all hit the target to increase the Clare school’s lead to eight.

McCarthy finally got Castletroy on the board in the second half with a fourth free but O’Donnell continued to cause problems for the Limerick side’s backline.

His third point of the contest and another from Lenihan, either side of another McCarthy free for Castletroy, saw St Joseph’s well clear heading into the final quarter.

Any hope of a late rally for Castletroy were dispelled late on when Belenko struck for their second goal that sealed a comfortable win for St Joseph’s Tulla.

SCORERS - CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Cian McCarthy 0-6 (6f), Fergal Ó Duinn, Shane Moloughney and John Sheahan 0-1 each; ST JOSEPH’S TULLA: James O’Donnell 1-4, Hugh Vaughan 0-4 (3f), Niki Belenko 1-0, Mark McGrath 0-3 (1f), Donnacha Lenihan 0-2, Odhran Perill, Louis Jennings and Eoin O’Connor 0-1 each.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Brian Halley (Monaleen); Donnacha Ryan (Monaleen), Andrew O’Connor (Ahane), Harry Ryan (Monaleen); Kevin McNamara (Ahane), Conor Ryan (Monaleen), Shane Moloughney (Ahane); Louis Ferland (Monaleen), Fergal Ó Duinn (Monaleen); John Sheahan (Monaleen), Conor Langan (Monaleen), Oscar Fitzgerald (Monaleen); Jack Moynihan (Monaleen), Danann Glynn (Ahane), Cian McCarthy (Ahane); Subs: Paud Quilter (Monaleen) for Fitzgerald (h-t), Mark O’Grady for McNamara (48 mins), Harry Ferte (Ahane) for Ó Duinn (57 mins), Owen Clifford (Ahane) for H Ryan (60 mins, inj).

ST JOSEPH’S TULLA: Patrick Murphy; Kevin McCarthy, Cian Maxted, Alex Guilfoyle; Louis Jennings, Harry Nolan, Marcus Fitzpatrick; Conor Littleton, Cathal Ryan; John Paul Murphy, James O’Donnell, Odhran Perill; Hugh Vaughan, Niki Belenko, Mark McGrath; Subs: Eoin O’Connor for Ryan (h-t), Donnacha Lenihan for Murphy (37 mins), Micheál Rochford for Vaughan (51 mins), Michael Hannon for Littleton (60 mins), Tom Moloney for Belenko (60 mins).

Referee: Niall Donovan (Clare).