Colleges Hurling All-Ireland Final: DLS Waterford 0-13, Kilkenny CBS 1-9An injury-time free from Stephen Power gave De La Salle, Waterford, their first senior colleges All-Ireland hurling title at Croke Park yesterday.
Power was the hero of the day for the Munster champions, scoring nine of his side's 13 points to wrestle the Croke Cup away from Kilkenny CBS.
The most important score was his last. Awarded a free deep inside their own 65-metre line, Power showed ice-cool nerves to convert the chance in the 63rd minute and lead his side to glory.
Both sides took some time to find their feet, but points from Mark Bergin and Mark Kelly, either side of a William Walsh effort, gave the CBS an early advantage.
That could have changed when the De La Salle were awarded an 11th-minute penalty following a foul on Craig Moloney. Corner forward Power elected to take the penalty, but drilled his shot over the bar - a let-off for the CBS.
While the Waterford side began to get the upper hand in midfield and across the half forward line, they couldn't shake off the CBS.
Led by Power (2), they took narrow leads on a few occasions, but points from Adrian Stapleton and Mark Kelly saw their Kilkenny rivals stay neck and neck.
Waterford had another goal chance before half-time when Power went low with a close-range free, but his searing effort was deflected over the bar by a CBS back.
Needless fouls allowed Power to tack more points on for the De La Salle, although a similar score from Bergin saw the CBS just a point behind at half-time (0-6 to 0-5).
The free-takers traded the opening scores of the second half, but De La Salle were denied a goal by CBS goalkeeper Stephen Murphy, who made a fine stop from a low Power free after 37 minutes.
The sides continued to share the points, Bergin and Adrian Stapleton cancelling out Craig Moloney's eighth point for the Waterford school.
Another Power 65 pushed the De La Salle back in front, before they were stunned by a deep CBS attack.
The only goal of the game came in the 48th minute. Sparked by a long delivery from Shane Maher, Stapleton was first to the dropping ball, then turned and lashed a powerful shot from the corner of the square.
However, their lead was short-lived. The De La Salle side upped their effort, hitting back with points from William Walsh and Power (free) to draw their side level with little over 11 minutes left. Power's eighth point of the afternoon - and his first from play - had Waterford back in front with seven minutes remaining.
The sides were level for the eighth time when Bergin fired over his fifth point of the afternoon.
CBS had one final chance after Power's late late point, but Bergin saw a 65th-minute free come back off a post, denying his side a replay in heartbreaking fashion.
DE LA SALLE WATERFORD:S O'Keeffe; P Kennedy, A O'Neill, N Connors; P Mahony, D O'Sullivan, S Daniels; M Grace, F McGrath; T Connors, N Kelly, W Walsh (0-2); S Power (0-9, five frees, two 65, 0-1 pen), C Moloney (0-1), P McCarthy (0-1). Subs: A Brophy for McCarthy, K Gahan for O'Neill, E Casey for N Kelly.
KILKENNY CBS:S Murphy; J Traynor, D Kenny, R Doyle; P Nolan, D Langton, E, Malone; M Kelly (0-2), J Fitzpatrick; S Maher, O Walsh, A Stapleton (1-2), P Guinan, M Bergin (0-5, three frees), M Gaffney. Subs: T Langton for Malone, M Bambrick for Walsh.
Referee:M Haverty (Offaly).
