As last Saturday's TUS Dr Harty Cup final between St Joseph’s Tulla and Ardscoil Rís drew to a close, the Clare FM commentary team pleaded with Tipperary referee Michael Kennedy to blow the final whistle.
"Blow it ref, blow it ref, you said there was only two minutes, Mr Kennedy," urged breathless match commentator Derrick Lynch as injury-time sailed towards a third minute.
When Kennedy did sound that shrill last blow of the whistle, the Clare contingent at the Gaelic Grounds – and indeed in the commentary box – erupted.
Lynch’s co-commentator, former St Joseph’s student and ex-Clare hurler, Tommy Guilfoyle, gave a powerful summary of what he had just seen.
"I’m never lost for words," Guilfoyle said, "but just to see the heart, dedication and commitment from these young lads is unreal. They are 16, 17, 18 and it’s their confidence, belief, composure and never-say-die attitude that stands out.
"All that reflects the school, the teachers, the hurling fraternity of East Clare and indeed the modern-day hurler. We are starved of success in East Clare and every success is celebrated by us all. You only ever want an honest effort, and this team has given it in spades.
It's great to win finals but it’s even better to win a great final
"They have been through so much. Sometimes you write your own history, and no final is easily won, but they outfought and out-scrapped Ardscoil Rís.
"It’s great to win finals but it’s even better to win a great final," Guilfoyle added.
This was a ground-breaking victory shrouded in emotion for both the team and their backroom, led by Clare under-20 manager Terence Fahy, Tomas Kelly who steered Inagh-Kilnamona to the 2021 Clare final, and former Galway stalwart Aidan Harte.
On the field success had been rare, but there is a new confidence and resilience about the school and the local community.
Five years ago, St Joseph’s welcomed a state-of-the-art development, with a range of facilities including an all-weather pitch. They have certainly made good use of that all-purpose field.
Everyone in the area is behind them too. Last weekend’s victorious team was backboned by three local clubs, Tulla, Feakle and O’Callaghans Mills. Between those three outfits, they produced a dozen of the starting team.
Clooney-Quin, Crusheen and Broadford were also represented in the starting XV.
On the field of play, lethal free-taker Sean Withycombe was instrumental in getting them across the line for the first time in their history, registering 1-48 through the victorious campaign.
It is hard to believe that, as recently as last year, St Joseph’s had never won a game in Harty Cup competition. This season they took the series by storm, becoming only the third Clare school after St Flannan’s and Ennis CBS to win Munster Colleges’ hurling premier prize.
Yet, the journey that St Joseph’s had to undertake to join them with another, all-local, team was more compelling, more complex. Some of the squad had no experience of playing underage 'A’ hurling in their club careers.
And competing in the final for the first time last Saturday, they were full value for the victory with a performance for the ages.
🏆Huge congratulations to St Joseph's Tulla on being crowned TUS Dr Harty Cup champions and to man of the match Ronan O’Connor for an outstanding performance 👏 @sjt_sport @Munsterpps pic.twitter.com/quGCC1m42w
— TUS (@TUS_ie) February 7, 2022
Ronan O'Connor was a real leader in the middle of the field, showing his determination and composure. The last few years have been especially difficult for Ronan and his brother, Oisin, after they sadly lost both their mother and father.
Afterwards, from the commentary box, Guilfoyle paid a special tribute to the courage and resolve of both young men.
The school’s win will give Clare hurling a massive boost. It reflects a body of work that has been undertaken by volunteers at development squad level and post-primary schools’ level in the county.
Clare schools have been prominent at Dean Ryan (Munster post-primary schools junior hurling competition) level recently as part of a focused plan to develop hurling in all secondary schools around the county.
At various stages different players stood up to the mark. Their corner-back Dara Ryan was the unlikely hero against Christian Brothers College, while Adam Hogan kept a close eye on De La Salle dangerman Paddy Fitzgerald in the semi-final.
After last Saturday’s final, former Limerick player and Ardscoil Rís manager Niall Moran came into the Tulla dressing room to pay an emotional tribute to their win and their achievements.
Moran recognised the journey the East Clare side had taken, and perhaps it is a sign of what is possible in Clare hurling in the coming years.
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