Gort gunning for champions DLS
The Galway school fell at this stage to Kilkenny CBS last year and with 10 of that team available, they are desperate to make amends.
Team mentor Eoin Hanley is confident of a shock: “I’ve seen DLS play and was hugely impressed. They are a well organised team. But they are not unbeatable. If we play to our potential, we’ll be more than a match for them.”
“We have confidence in our own ability and if Waterford do win, they’ll have earned it”.
The Connacht champions are led by former Galway minors Stephen Lambert, Niall Donoghue and Jerry Hennelly. They are backboned by three sets of brothers — Conor and Donal Cooney, Michael and Robbie Cummins, Kevin and Robbie Lane — but will have to be at their very best to topple DLS.
The Waterford outfit have been hugely impressive and if they repeat the form shown in the Munster final win over Thurles CBS, they should reach their second national decider in a row.
Stephen Power is their ace man but they are not a one man team with Noel Connors, Philip Mahony and Stephen Daniels all starring in this campaign.
DLS should win but occasions such as this can be intimidating for young players, and they cannot afford to take anything for granted.
Today’s second semi-final pits Dublin Colleges and Thurles CBS at Nowlan Park (1pm).
Former Offaly hurler Vincent Teehan is one of the driving forces behind the hurling surge in the capital.
He explained: “Hurling in Dublin is on the crest of the wave and every youngster wants to play. We are very fortunate to have the full support of the county board and the Leinster Council. We find now there are more young people opting to play hurling instead of football. In fact it is very likely we’ll field two teams, Dublin North and Dublin South, in next year’s championship.”
Dublin Colleges won their first All-Ireland title two years ago against St Flannan’s. There are two survivors from that team still involved, David Treacy and Peter Buckeridge. Niall McMorrogh, Rory O’Carroll whose brother Ross is on the county senior team and Ronan Walsh are others who will figure on our team, but having lost to Thurles CBS earlier in the season in a challenge game, we know we are up against it.”
Thurles CBS were very disappointed with their performance in the recent Harty Cup final where they never reached the same heights of earlier rounds. The back door system gave them a second chance and they took it in style defeating Kilkenny CBS by 12 points in the quarter-final.
When in form Thurles are a superb side. Kevin O’Gorman, James Barry, Ciaran Shelley, John O’Neill, David Butler and Denis Maher are excellent players and if the side plays to their potential, they should be heading for the final — and a potential re-match with DLS Waterford.
* See Digest for all the weekend College and Vocational School fixtures.
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