MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL De La Salle 0-22 Sarsfields 2-15 (After extra-time):DE LA Salle repeated their 2008 win over Sarsfields to reach the Munster club hurling final following a courageous comeback at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
There was a dramatic end to the game in regulation time, when the Waterford champions scored twice in injury-time to force extra-time.
First, Bryan Phelan pointed a free awarded after he struck a 65 wide, a Sars player penalised for deliberately moving in front of him as he delivered the 65, to cut the deficit to the minimum.
And, then in the fourth minute of additional time, centre-back Kevin Moran, who was outstanding throughout, struck a glorious equaliser from close to the right touchline near half-way to make it 0-17 to 2-11.
It was the least De La Salle deserved, but the Cork representatives showed their mettle in the 20 minutes’ extra-time before Jake Dillon hit the winning point four minutes from the end to break their hearts.
The sides couldn’t be separated at half-time in extra-time either despite the visitors scoring three times in two minutes only for Sars to respond with a Tadhg Óg Murphy leveller, 2-14 to 0-20.
Unsurprisingly, the scoring rate dropped appreciably in the second-half as tired bodies tried to overcome difficult underfoot conditions. All Star John Mullane, who experienced a frustrating outing, edged De La Salle in front, though a Cian McCarthy free restored parity. A minute later Dillon pounced for what proved the clincher.
McCarthy had a late 65 to force a replay, but his effort drifted left and wide, Sars’ 11th of the tie.
The home side led by 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time in regulation time, after goalkeeper and captain Alan Kennedy produced a number of superb saves and Mullane could do little right, missing a couple of tap-over frees and being denied a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity by the goalkeeper.
McCarthy claimed the opening goal after 16 minutes, pouncing on Daniel Roche’s long clearance and Kieran “Fraggy” Murphy’s hustling in front of the posts. “Fraggy” added the second two minutes from the interval following a fierce goalmouth scramble.
De La Salle began the second half brightly, scoring three unanswered points, including a long-range beauty from Eddie Barrett, but Mullane’s bad miss from a free knocked them off their stride.
Back came Sars to claim three points of their own to lead by 2-8 to 0-9 after 41 minutes and seemingly weather the storm. But De La Salle showed their battling qualities once again.
Páidí Nevin registered his fourth point to add to Phelan’s couple from frees before Mullane, at last, got on the scoresheet from play in the 52nd minute (Sars 2-8 to 0-13 ahead) to set-up a rousing finish and a dramatic conclusion before extra-time was required to finally separate the teams.
DE LA SALLE: S Benner; D Russell, I Flynn, M Doherty; B Phelan (0-6 four frees, two 65s), K Moran (0-2), S Daniels (0-1 a free); C Watt, D Twomey (0-1); P Nevin (0-4), D Greene, E Barrett (0-1); J Dillon (0-1), J Mullane (0-5 three frees), J Keane. Subs: E Madigan (0-1)for Watt (42 mins), L Hayes for Keane (56 mins), Keane for Greene (78 mins).
SARSFIELDS: A Kennedy; D Kenneally, J Barry, C O'Sullivan; G O'Kelly-Lynch; R Ryan, C Leahy; D Kearney (0-3); D Roche; C McCarthy (1-6, five frees, one 65), W Kearney, G O'Loughlin (0-3); M Cussen, K Murphy (1-1), T Óg Murphy (0-2). Subs: R Murphy for Cussen (55 mins), Cussen for R Murphy (70 mins), P Ryan for D Kearney (74 mins), E O'Sullivan for W Kearney (76 mins).
Referee: S Roche(Tipperary).
