De La Salle, Waterford ... 2-8 Abbey CBS, Tipperary ... 2-7 De La Salle, who were cruising 2-7 to 0-4 at half-time, had to fight hard to see off the rousing second-half challenge of Abbey CBS at Clonmel yesterday.

First-half goals from Gary Molloy and Gearoid O'Connor had rattled the Abbey, and DLS had a nine-point half-time lead.

Abbey centre forward Barry Ryan got their opening goal on 37 minutes, and when their outstanding Conor O'Brien blasted home a 45th-minute penalty goal a point separated the sides 2-7 to 2-6.

But Abbey were still a point adrift at the final whistle.

DE LA SALLE: J Dooley; D Russell, W Hutchinson, M O'Doherty; P Hogan, T Power (0-1), P Carroll; S O'Sullivan (0-2), N Delahunty; K Moran, G Molloy (1-0), P Nevin; M Barden, J Quirke (0-3), G O'Connor (1-2). Subs: D Heffernan for G Molloy, E O'Neill for M Barden.

ABBEY CBS: T Gleeson; P Power, J Barry, D Hennessy; D Hogan, B Hanley (0-1), C Moore; W Rogers, L O'Dwyer; J Ryan, B Ryan (1-0), C O'Brien (1-4, 0-4f); B Grogan, D Morrissey (0-2), C O'Dwyer. Sub: O Davern for J Ryan.

Referee: G Hogg (Limerick).