De La Salle at full strength for cup clash with Templemore

DE La Salle, Waterford expect to be at full strength for tomorrow’s Dean Ryan Cup semi-final meeting with Our Lady’s Templemore at Ardfinnan (1.30 p.m.).

Jim Quirke is suffering from ’flu but team coach Derek McGrath is confident his big centre forward will be fit to line out.

“Having lost the last two U-15 finals (White Cup), we are due a change of fortune”, said McGrath, “but I’ve come to accept there are no guarantees in this game.

“Two years ago we led Thurles CBS all the way until the last minute when they scored the winning goal. Last year Flannan’s caught us. With 11 of that team available and having defeated Flannan’s in the first round, expectations are high here in Waterford that we can finally turn the corner.

“We have never won the Dean Ryan Cup before and it would be a tremendous boost to hurling in the school if we managed to win it But I saw Our Lady’s in their semi-final and they are a very competent outfit.”

The Waterford side who have a vital Harty Cup game against Youghal CBS coming up, will field three seniors, Kevin Moran, Jim Quirke and Noel Delahunty.

Our Lady’s will include four seniors, goalkeeper James Cody, Ian Delaney, Colin Campion and Kieran McGrath, and according to team coach John Costigan, are desperately keen to win a competition that so far has eluded them.

“I would give anything to win the Dean Ryan”, said Costigan. “We have alternated between “A” and “B” championships over the years and have won them all, but this one has always managed to slip through. A lot of work has gone into this team and having beaten Cashel (holders) and Thurles CBS, there is an air of confidence within the school.

“However DSL will be very difficult to beat. They defeated us in last year’s U-15 championship and with both teams fielding most of the same players, we will have to be at our very best to turn the tables.”

The second semi-final involves St. Colman’s and surprise packet St. Clement’s at Feenagh tomorrow (1.30 p.m. start). Because of their greater tradition and experience at this level, Colman’s will start favourites. They were comfortable winners over Farranferris and North Mon in earlier rounds, and have excellent players in Kenneth Kearney, Adrian Mannix, Jamie Kearney and Ronan Coakley.

Clement’s had only one earlier outing, against Midleton CBS whom they beat comfortably. It was a result which came as a bit of a surprise particularly because it was so emphatic).

To add a bit of nostalgia to tomorrow’s contest, Clement’s are coached by a former Colman’s boy, Declan Fitzgerald, who won a Dean Ryan medal with the Fermoy college 10 years ago.

“School loyalty and all that will be put on hold for a hour tomorrow as we plot Colman’s downfall”, said Declan. “It would be a massive boost to the school if we were to win. Clement’s who draw players from traditional senior clubs Patrickswell and Ballybrown, will be hoping that Wayne McNamara, Timmy Sheehan, Michael Wilkinson and Brian Quinn reproduce the form from their win over the Mon, but it looks to be a bridge too far for the Limerick side.