Quirke on rampage for ‘Salle’
The Clare boys battled bravely and were within five points of the victors at the interval, (1-5 to 0-3) but they collapsed after the break as Quirke, who finished the day with 2-9, went on the rampage.
Waterford started in a storming fashion with Nicky Quinlan and Michael Power guilty of squandering gilt edged goal chances in the 7th and 8th minutes. However, with Diarmuid McMahon heroic at full-back, and Damien Browne unerring from frees, the Clare side were level midway through the opening half.
But then Quirke stepped in. He scored a magnificent goal after 16 minutes following a wonderful Noel Delahunty clearance and the Shannon resistance began to wilt.
The Waterford teenager then tacked on a brace of points within five minutes of the restart before striking his second goal in the 41st minute.
McMahon continued to lead by example in an overworked Shannon defence with Seanie Stack, son of the former Clare legend giving maximum assistance. Indeed the Banner boys had two good goal opportunities in the 37th and 42nd minutes but were denied by an alert Eanna Martin.
But with a dominant half back line of Kevin Moran, Noel Delahunty, and Tommy Power along with the rampant Quirke up front, De La Salle ran out easy winners.
Scorers for De La Salle; J. Quirke(2-9, 0-6 frees); N. Quinlan, T. Power, S. Ivory, T. O’Connor(0-1) each.
Shannon Schools; D. Browne(0-4, frees); P. Butler, P. Lawlor(0-1) each.
DE LA SALLE: E. Martin; P. Kelly. D. Heffernan. A. Dunne; K. Moran. N. Delahunty. T. Power; A. Walsh. M. Doherty; D. Ellis. J. Quirke. M. Power; N. Quinlan. D. Alyward. S. Ivory; Subs; T. O’Connor for Ellis; S. Power for Alyward; K. Kelly for Quinlan; K. Norris for Ivory.
SHANNON SCHOOLS: C. McDonagh; A. Leamy. D. McMahon. R. McInerney; E. Barrett. D. Barrett. S. Stack; J. Reidy. C. King; D. Browne. D. Tierney. A. Moloney; E. O’Brien. D. Reidy. P. Butler; Subs; S. O’Sullivan for Moloney; P. Gleeson for O’Brien; J. Murphy for Butler; P. Lawlor for D. Barrett.
Referee; Richard Barry, Cappawhite.
