Landers seals Déise win with late goal
A late goal from corner-forward Keith Landers, his second of the match, sealed the Waterford side's third straight victory, but they had to withstand a courageous second half rally from Shannon. With centre-forward Noel O'Murchu and full-forward Mark Gorman sparkling up front, the Waterford lads dominated early on and rarely allowed the Shannon lads a look-in. The Waterford students led 0-6 to 0-2 before Landers tapped home a rebound for his first goal in the 13th minute after Shannon goalkeeper Ciaran McDonagh had brilliantly saved from O'Murchu.
With all their forwards and both midfielders, Joey Mullen and Mark O'Brien, getting their name on the scoresheet, Coláisti Na nDeise led 1-10 to 0-5 at the interval. Damien Browne scored four of Shannon's points from frees and Andrew Maloney poached their fifth and only one from play on the stroke of half-time. Shannon, inspired by the accurate free-taking from Browne, fought their way back into contention on the resumption. Browne pointed his fifth score from frees before corner-forward Eoin O'Brien gave Shannon cause for hope when his speculative drive deceived the Waterford defence and ended up in the net in the 37th minute.
It was now 1-10 to 1-6 in Waterford's favour but Shannon's were battling hard and with the magnificent Browne hitting three points on-the-trot, two from 65s, it was all to play for. However, Waterford topped the rot with fine points from Mark Gorman and hard-working midfielder Mark O'Brien. But Shannon, with full back Diarmuid McMahon performing heroically, refused to lie down and points from midfielder Jonathon Reidy and Browne from a free, his ninth of the game, left the outcome wide open. Shannon then missed a 65 and Waterford responded with Landers grabbing his second goal and Ó Murchu sealing victory with a point a minute from the end.
Shannon will have to beat De La Salle next time out, to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Scorers: Colaisti Na nDéise. K. Landers 2-0; M. Gorman 0-5 (0-3 from frees); M. O'Brien 0-2; N. O'Murchu 0-2; J. Nagle, P. Hurney, J. Mullen and B. Bannon 0-1 each.
Shannon Schools. E. O'Brien 1-0; D. Browne 0-9 (0-7 from frees; 0-2 from 65s); A. Maloney and J. Reidy 0-1 each.
COLAÍSTÍ NA nDÉISE: B. Scanlon; J. Morrissey, J. Kinderagn, S. Hanrahan; M. Flynn, B. McCarthy, M. Prendergast; J. Mullen, M. O'Brien; J. Nagle, N. O'Murchu, P. Hurney; B. Bannon, M. Gorman, K. Landers.
SHANNON SCHOOLS: C. McDonagh; A. Leamey, D. McMahon, E. Barrett; C. Kenny, D. Barrett, S. Stack; J. Reidy, P. Butler; A. Maloney, J. O'Neill, D. Browne; E. O'Brien, D. Reidy, S. Kelly. Subs. S. O'Sullivan for O'Neill; M. O'Connor for Kelly.
Referee. N. Cosgrave (Clonmel).
