Rampant De La Salle maintain perfect record

De La Salle, Macroom 1-20 Colaiste Na Sceilge 3-8

Two second-half goals put a more rosy complexion on things from the Kerry school’s perspective, but there was never any real danger of De La Salle surrendering their nine points interval lead.

After a few early scares, when Paddy Curran was gifted two good goal scoring opportunities which he failed to convert, De La Salle turned on the style in devastating manner.

With Peter Lynch rock solid at full-back, Donal Cotter outstanding at centre-back, James Ambrose and Matthew McDonagh forming an unbeatable midfield partnership and David Goold, Paul Healy, Paddy Lynch and Sean Kiely firing on all cylinders up front, the Macroom lads dominated the proceedings with vigour and panache.

After the upright and then the crossbar denied them a goal, De La Salle clicked into top gear. They were two points to the good before Lynch parted to McDonagh in the 14th minute and the big midfielder made no mistake with a fine drive to the net.

McDonagh, Ambrose, who kicked three points, and Goold, who scored seven, were magnificent as De La Salle stormed into a 1-10 to 0-2 lead before Colaiste Na Sceilge’s best performer Curran snatched back a goal two minutes from the break.

Leading 1-11 to 1-2 at half time, De La Salle continued to grow in stature after the resumption and increased their lead to 12 points before wing forward Vincent Moriarty struck with a goal for Colaiste Na Sceilge at the end of the third quarter.

When centre-forward Paul O’Donoghue followed suit with another opportunist goal in the 52nd minute to reduce the deficit to five points, Colaiste Na Sceilge’s hopes of remaining in the competition temporarily rose. But with Goold and James O’Leary kicking impeccably, De La Salle went on to register their third success in-a-row to top their section.

Scorers: De La Salle, Macroom: M. McDonagh 1-2; D. Goold 0-7 (0-5 from frees); J. Ambrose 0-3; S. Kiely 0-2; P. Lynch 0-2; J. O’Leary 0-2 (0-1 from free); D. O’Sullivan, and P. Healy 0-1 each. Colaiste Na Sceilge:P. Curran 1-4 (0-2 from frees); P. O’Donoghue 1-2 (0-2 from frees); V. Moriarity 1-1; D. Donnelly 0-1.

DE LA SALLE, MACROOM: S. Casey; J. J. Murphy, P. Lynch J. Corkery; T. Lillis, D. Cotter, R. Buckley; J. Ambrose, M. McDonagh; P. Lynch, S. Kiely, D. J. Ryan; D. O’Sullivan, D. Goold, P. Healy. Subs:J. O’Leary for O’Sullivan; J. McCarthy for Lillis (injured); D. Murphy for Lynch; T. Dunne for Ryan.

COLAISTE NA SCEILGE: B. O’Connor; J. O’Connell, T. Deasy, D. O’Dwyer; Colm O’Sullivan, A. O’Dwyer, Cormac O’Sullivan; D. Donnelly, C. O’Connor; S. Cournane, P. O’Donoghue, V. Moriarity; P. Curran, S. O’Sullivan, C. McCrohan.

Referee: B. Twiss (Miltown).