De La Salle are sixty minutes from further glory

De La Salle’s unbeaten run in Munster Championship hurling continues for now but just about, after they overcame the challenge of Clare champions Newmarket-on-Fergus at Sixmilebridge in the Munster semi final.

The Waterford city side needed a late goal from John Keane to secure their passage to the Munster Final and an appearance against Thurles Sarsfields in what is a repeat of the 2010 final, which De La Salle won 0-9 to 0-8 at Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

In truth, this is a game that De La Salle should have had all but wrapped up by the break. At this stage of the game they held a one point lead but on a day that some of their shooting proved to be somewhat wayward, they should already have had one foot already in the final, but hitting ten wide’s as opposed to two for the Clare side meant that things were much closer than the De La Salle team would have liked.

However, at this point these things are mere statistics and the statistic that will give De La Salle most joy right now is that they are just sixty plus minutes from capturing a third Munster Club final to add to the three county titles that they have won since 2008.

The game was less than a minute old when De La Salle took the lead after Bryan Phelan put over the first of his brace of scores in this game. Colin Ryan who proved to be the Clare Champions top tallies man on the day soon levelled but on seven minutes De La Salle were back in front after John Mullane hit his first score of the game.

John Keane and David Barrett swapped scores for their respective sides in the following minutes before John Keane and Colin Ryan traded scores. The sides were all square once more after Shane O’Brien (Junior) pointed for the Newmarket-on-Fergus men but De La Salle ensured that they would end the opening quarter with a small advantage after Dean Twomey pointed on fifteen minutes.

John Keane and Bryan Phelan further stretched De La Salle’s lead with time running down in the first half but the home side were to finish the half the stronger of the two sides with Colin Ryan putting over two placed balls before the break, at which point De La Salle had a 0-7 to 0-6 lead.

The Clare Champions began the second half as they had finished the first and within minutes of the restart they were a point to the good after Shane O’Brien (Senior) twice pointed from play.

The lead was a short lived one however as Jake Dillon and then John Mullane pointed to restore a lead for De La Salle.

At the end of the third quarter James Liddy picked out Mike McInerney who shot at the posts. The umpires were in two minds as to whether the ball had gone between then or wide of the mark but after a period of consultation a point was given. TV pictures however appear to be inconclusive as to whether the ball went between or wide of the posts.

De La Salle hit back with a Dean Twomey point and five minutes from time was due to elapse, Mike McInerney hit his second score of the game to level matters once more.

In added time, the home side looked as if they were going to end De La Salle’s unbeaten run in Munster Championship hurling when Colin Ryan shot at the posts but his shot went wide of the target.

Having just have had a let off, De La Salle from Stephen Brenner’s restart attached the Newmarket-on-Fergus goals. Jake Dillon and Eddie Barrett combined well to find John Keane who shot at goal and got enough power in his stroke to put the ball past the impressive Darren Duggan in the Newmarket-on-Fergus goals for the games only goal.

The Clare Champions wasted no time in restarting the game after the Borris-Illeagh native’s goal, but as soon as the ball was sent up field Johnny Ryan blew his full time whistle.

Despite having an off day with some of their shooting, De La Salle for now will be happy to be in another Munster Final. However they will know that if they are to win next day out there will have to be a marked improvement on this performance.

They will know that Thurles Sarsfields will provide much stiffer opposition that what they had today and if they were to miss as many chances as they did against Newmarket-on-Fergus, their dream of playing in Croke Park on Saint Patrick’s Day could be over.

De La Salle: Stephen Brenner, Conan Watt; Ian Flynn, Stephen Daniels; Bryan Phelan, Kevin Moran, Eoin Madigan; Eddie Barrett, Dean Twomey; Paudi Nevin, David Greene, Jake Dillon; John Mullane, Jack Kennedy, John Keane. Subs: Oran Keevers for Conan Watt, Chris Sheehan for Eoin Madigan, Shane McNulty for David Greene.

Scorers: John Keane 1-2, John Mullane, Bryan Phelan, Dean Twomey 0-2 each, Jake Dillon (Free), Paudi Nevin 0-1 each.

Newmarket-on-Fergus: Darren Duggan; Eoin O'Brien, James McInerney, Sean O'Connor; Niall O'Connor, Enda Barrett, Alan Barrett; Eoin Hayes, Martin O'Hanlon; David Barrett, Shane O'Brien (senior), Mike McInerney; Shane O'Brien (Junior), Anthony Kilmartin, Colin Ryan. Subs: James Liddy for Kilmartin, Shane Kelleher for S O'Brien (junior).

Scorers: Colin Ryan 0-4 (2 frees, 1 ’65), Shane O’Brien (Senior), Mike McInerney 0-2 each, Shane O’Brien (Junior), David Barrett 0-1 each. 

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).