Harty Cup: St Colman's Fermoy book knockout place as they hold out to beat St Joseph's Tulla

St Colman’s Fermoy 2-19 St Joseph’s Tulla 2-16 

ST Joseph’s Tulla fought hard, and when Matthew Corbett converted his injury time penalty, the Clare outfit had a sliver of hope. Two points down, just over a minute to go. It was possible.

They did everything they could, but when Ciaran O’Leary won it back for Fermoy and sent it between the posts, their Harty Cup run was over.

The win means St Colman’s Fermoy go through with Thurles CBS, while Tulla will exit the group stage alongside Pobalscoil na Tríonóide Youghal.

An intense and close affair in UL on Wednesday afternoon that was never separated by more than five points, Colman’s were the first to get going as both teams were slow from the start.

Liam Foley forged a promising attack four minutes in as he picked out Louie Roche, who let it off quickly to Sean O’Donoghue. He shot powerfully at goal, but quick wrists from Owen McGann sent it behind for a 65.

Liam Óg Hegarty opened the scoring with that 65 in the 4th minute, and Colman’s had a green flag four minutes later.

After Tom McGrath pointed to put Colman’s two ahead, they got the opening goal when Denis Cashman dropped a long ball into Fionn Lardner. He handpassed it off to Ciaran O'Leary, who made no mistake, goal.

Fermoy pulled ahead, but not by more than five, and Tulla responded with four scores in a row. The final ten minutes of the half had the teams hit four scores each – 0-10 to 1-8 at the interval.

While Colman’s were on top, Joseph’s had got themselves within one point five times in the first half, and they were certainly still in the contest.

Dannan Fox caused trouble for the north Cork outfit all game, forcing Colman’s to concede far too many frees, which Corbett was happy to take.

In the 43rd minute, Tulla’s Sam Cooper delivered an excellent dropping ball over the top for 15-year-old Liam Murphy, and the corner-forward pulled on the sliotar from close range. His belter flew into the net.

Colman’s responded well to the pressure, and three minutes later had their second goal, as Roche drilled one into the bottom corner across goal.

Fermoy, in control again, weren’t finished. in the next 10 minutes they scored four points to Tulla’s one. St Joseph’s did well to earn the penalty deep into injury time, but ultimately, they didn’t do enough to challenge Fermoy, who hit 12 wides on the day.

Scorers for St Colman’s: L Óg Hegarty 0-7 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), C O’Leary, L Roche 1-1 each, L Foley 0-4, S O’Donoghue, D Hickey 0-2 each, F Lardner, T McGrath 0-1 each.

St Joseph’s: M Corbett 1-10 (0-8 f, 1-0 pen,), L Murphy 1-1, E Mulcahy 0-2, S Boyce, D Fox, B Kelleher 0-1 each.

ST JOSEPH’S TULLA: O McGann (Feakle); C McNamara (O’Callaghans Mills), S Kilker (Clooney-Quin), F O’Gara (Clooney-Quin); R McMahon (Tulla), D Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge), R Hayes (Tulla); M Corbett (Clooney-Quin), D White (Clooney-Quin); E Mulcahy (Tulla), S Cooper (Broadford), B Kelleher (Tulla); L Murphy (O’Callaghans Mills), D Fox (Clooney-Quin), S Boyce (O’Callaghans Mills).

Subs: J Slattery (Broadford) for McMahon (50), M Vaughan (Broadford for Kilker (55 inj).

ST COLMAN’S FERMOY: T Corcoran (Ballyduff Upper); D O’Brien (Fermoy), D Cashman (Bride Rovers), A Hickey (Ballyduff Upper); O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s), J O’Brien (Fermoy), B McGrath (Fermoy); L Óg Hegarty (Kilworth), S O’Donoghue (St Catherine’s); L Foley (Watergrasshill), D Hickey (Ballyduff Upper), L Roche (Bride Rovers); T McGrath (Harbour Rovers), F Lardner (Fermoy), C O’Leary (Watergrasshill).

Sub: L Cronin (Fermoy) for Hegarty (25-28 bs).

Referee: Éamonn Stapleton (Doon)