Sport

Power drives De La Salle into their first final

Colleges Hurling All-Ireland Senior A Championship semi-final/ De La Salle 3-6; Castlecomer CS 1-7: Two goals from corner forward…

Fri Mar 30 2007 - 01:00

Colleges Hurling All-Ireland Senior A Championship semi-final/ De La Salle 3-6; Castlecomer CS 1-7:Two goals from corner forward Stephen Power sent De La Salle Waterford through to their first final after a magnificent, extra-time victory in this excellent All-Ireland Colleges A Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at New Ross yesterday evening.

It was an amazing match, as Castlecomer CS held a the edge through the opening 30 minutes but still found themselves level at the break, 1-2 each.

They had stormed into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead by the 17th minute, with Alan Ruth shooting a cracking goal from an acute angle.

But a Power goal from a 25-metre free five minutes before the break ensured the sides went in level.

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The defensive displays of both sides was top quality, with Paddy Kennedy and David O'Sullivan outstanding in the De La Salle rearguard, while at the opposite end, Eddie Hickey and Conor Fogarty were quite magnificent.

As the second half unfolded scoring was quite difficult, but when a William Walsh ground shot found the net, the Munster champions led by 2-3 to 1-4, after 42 minutes.

But they failed to score for the remaining 18 minutes of the half, while Castlecomer stormed back for points from Peadar Breen and Brian Dillon to force the game into extra-time, although both sides had their chances in the closing minutes to snatch a sensational winner.

In extra-time, De La Salle took a decisive edge, with Power shooting a great goal just at the end of the first period to leave his side leading 3-5 to 1-6.

Castlecomer, to their credit, never gave up the battle, but when Power stretched the opposition into a six-point lead they had a real battle on their hand. Despite incessant late pressure, all they could manage was a Peadar Boran point, leaving De La Salle to qualify for their first All-Ireland final.

DE LA SALLE:S O'Keeffe; P Kennedy, A O'Neill, N Connors; S Daniels, D O'Sullivan, P Mahoney; M Grace, F McGrath; T Connors, W Walsh (1-0), N Kelly; S Power (2-5, 1-5 frees), C Moloney, P McCarthy. Subs: A Brophy (0-1) for McCarthy; E Morrissey for Power; G Bambrick for Walsh; E Casey for T Connors.

CASTLECOMER CS:G Delaney; A Moran, G Morrissey, O Walsh; E Hickey, C Fogarty, P Boran (0-2); T Breen (0-1), N Darcy; E Dwyer, M Murphy, B Dillon (0-1); C Maher (0-1), C McGrath (0-2, frees), A Ruth (1-0).

Referee:D Murphy (Wexford).