Salle steady down after Sixmile’ scare – De La Salle 1-10 Newmarket 0-10

 

That De La Salle performance won’t suffice in two week’s time but it was good enough on Sunday to chisel out the win. They almost left it behind them and Colin Ryan had the golden ticket for the Munster final when he hared down the right wing in the last minute of normal time. Salle’s first half dominance, defensive solidity and experience in these situations eventually kept Ryan and company at bay.

They started like an express train and threatened to leave Newmarket at the station. In spite of the four week lay off, their hurling was crisp from the throw in. They overpowered their opponents and in terms of winning the dirty ball, the man in the red and white shirt nearly always emerged with it. Just before the game started, all the De La Salle starters engaged in a mini game within a small space which focussed on winning possession in close quarters. Once again the half back trio held firm and the midfield pairing hoovered up possession. With all of these factors going in their favour, De La Salle’s lead still only soared to three points. Nine different players missed the target as the wides tally entered double figures by the short whistle. Newmarket were far more economical and only struck two wides with Colin Ryan dropping deep to pull the strings. They were really struggling in the full forward line however where Kevin Moran stood in well after picking up a dead leg early on. A one point cushion at half time didn’t reflect the fact that De La Salle were on top in almost all sectors.

The pendulum swung on the changeover and Newmarket awoke from their slumber. Their backs tightened up with the two corner men Eoin O’Brien and Sean O’Connor taking turns to shadow and suffocate John Mullane. They hit the front for the first time through Shane O’Brien senior and the crowd began to raise their voices in the packed stand. Whenever they felt under pressure in that second half, De La Salle responded with urgency. Jake Dillon’s clever sideline picked out Mullane to restore their lead. Then when Mike McInerney was awarded a controversial point, Dean Twomey went straight down the other end to raise a white flag. They rode their luck at times however. McInerney’s blistering effort hammered off the frame of the goal and out midway through the half. Colin Ryan also shot five wides of his own as Newmarket finished up with ten efforts off target. De La Salle also had to dip deep into their defensive resources as Oran Keevers and Chris Sheehan stepped into the breach during an anxious last quarter. With the sides on level terms for the fifth occasion, it turned into trench warfare. Openings were butchered at both ends. Stephen Daniels made some vital catches and clearances in that period. Then after Ryan fluffed his lines, Salle crafted a real team goal with the workhorse Barrett finding Paudie Nevin before John Keane scooped the sliotar home.

The Tipperary native enjoyed one of his finest hours in a De La Salle shirt on Sunday. He showed well for the ball in the first half at corner forward and when he wasn’t sniffing around for a score, he was looking for the man in the better position. He converted two of his three chances in the opening period before rounding off that patient move in injury time. His sharp hurling brain will be needed the next day. Another unsung hero Eddie Barrett again put in a busy performance alongside Dean Twomey who chipped in with two crucial points. Then you had the usual suspects of Kevin Moran, Stephen Daniels and John Mullane who showed flashes of leadership when it was necessary.

Thurles won’t be shaking in their boots after this performance especially when they scored 2-20 against Sarsfields. Derek McGrath will be pleased though to survive another away assignment and how the players rallied when Newmarket began to find their rhythm. A bit like the Lismore quarter final, they executed the winning score when all wasn’t going their own way. On a sticky pitch and in an unfamiliar surroundings they absorbed the knocks that came their way and banished some poor finishing with a slick winning score. “We are proud of the fact that although it might not have been a purists’ game, it was kind of dogged and we’ll take dogged all day as long as we win” is how McGrath put it afterwards and that’s as fair a summation as any. He also knows that some refinements will be required for November 25 down by the Lee. “I’m just thrilled to get out of here and obviously we would be hugely aware of the fact that we wouldn’t be near good enough to beat Sarsfields.”