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De La Salle denied

Waterford SHC Final/ Ballygunner 2-10 De La Salle 1-12 : It was heartbreak for De La Salle in their first county senior hurling…

Mon Oct 17 2005 - 01:00

Waterford SHC Final/ Ballygunner 2-10 De La Salle 1-12: It was heartbreak for De La Salle in their first county senior hurling final at Walsh Park yesterday as they lost by just a point in an exciting tie.

So Ballgunner collected their first title since 2001 following defeats by Mount Sion in the last three finals.

Driving rain before the start made ball control difficult and underfoot conditions treacherous and it was a tribute to the players they provided such an entertaining game for an attendance of over 7,000.

De La Salle strove desperately in injury time for an equaliser which they almost got. Teenage full forward James Quirke, magnificent from frees all through, under severe pressure shot just wide of the right-hand post.

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Corner forwards Tommy Power and Gearóid O'Connor each found the De La Salle net, in the 10th and 21st minutes respectively, to put Ballygunner 2-4 to 0-4 ahead. Quirke's free-taking allied to tenacious outfield play by Brian Phelan and Derek McGrath just about kept the underdogs in touch.

But although John Mullane was kept quiet by Alan Kirwan - he was restricted to a single point - De La Salle crept into contention. A succession of quick frees along with a gift goal when Phelan's long delivery was dropped over the line by goalkeeper Patrick Haran, gave them a lead, 1-8 to 2-4, before Colin Kehoe levelled matters just on the break.

Kehoe missed a glorious goal chance for Ballygunner immediately after the resumption and after his side went two points up Haran redeemed himself on 40 minutes with a save from Moran.

Mullane's point levelled the game on 54 minutes but it was Paul Flynn who sent over what proved the winning point four minutes from time. Flynn missed chances either side of that score but try as they might De La Salle failed to muster an equaliser.

BALLYGUNNER: P Haran; A Kirwan, W Kiely, R O'Sullivan; N O'Donnell, F Hartley, W Hutchinson; C Kehoe (0-1), S O'Sullivan; B O'Sullivan, A Moloney, P Foley (0-1); T Power (1-4, two points frees), P Flynn (0-2), G O'Connor (1-2). Subs: S Walsh for Moloney, M Kearney for B O'Sullivan.

DE LA SALLE: S Brenner; A Kelly, I Flynn, M Doherty; D Russell, B Phelan (1-0), C Watt (0-1); P Nevin, K Moran (0-1); A Ryan, L Lawlor, D McGrath; J Quirke (0-9, eight frees), B Farrell, J Mullane (0-1). Subs: L Hayes for Farrell; T Kearney for Ryan,

Referee: M Wadding.