O’Neill to the rescue for Thurles in cracker

DLS Waterford 2-12 Thurles CBS 1-15 (After extra-time)

It was a fitting end to one of the great college finals and it’s back to the same venue next Saturday for installment three between these two great rivals.

For sheer excitement, tension, commitment, bravery and skill, it would be hard to beat this game.

Having lost to DLS in the Munster final, Thurles were on a mission of atonement. After being two goals down at half time, they put in a storming second half to force extra time and then found reserves of energy to earn a replay when Killian Fitzpatrick’s point a minute from time looked to be a winner.

DLS coach Derek McGrath had said in the lead up to this final that there was one good game in Thurles CBS and his charges certainly got it.

“A lot had been made of Thurles’s failure to play to their potential in the Harty Cup final, and I felt that when we both qualified for the All-Ireland final, it would be a difficult contest.

“We knew coming down here today that Thurles were looking forward to putting the record straight against us, and you would have to say they were a bit unlucky not to win it in normal time.

“They had us on the back foot for most of the second half, but we are proud champions and I have to give credit to our lads for the way they held their composure when Thurles came at them.”

Thurles principal Martin Quirke said he was delighted that his team showed their true potential.

“We knew we hadn’t performed in the Harty final and today we got the chance to redress that. I’d like think we did, but we’ve nothing won.

“I know it’s a cliché, but this was a wonderful advertisement for hurling. I heard people say it was the best game they had seen in years. It was end-to-end stuff with some outstanding individual performances, and we are still there.”

The teams were level six times. As he had done in the Harty final, Noel Connors kept a very tight rein on Thurles dangerman John O’Neill, while at the other end goals by Pauric Mahony and Peter McCarthy helped DLS to an interval lead of 2-4 to 0-4. It might have been a goal more but Thurles ‘keeper Bill McCormack brought off a wonderful save to deny Niall Clifford just before the short whistle.

Connors was clearly hampered by a hamstring injury and wasn’t as effective in the second half on O’Neill, who threw the issue wide open with a goal seconds after the restart.

It was the score that both Thurles and the game needed, and from there to the final whistle, the game grew in intensity as the Tipperary side, superbly marshalled in defence by James Barry, came at the champions in waves.

Kieran Morris rifled over four points from placed balls while Stephen Power kept DLS in the game with three from frees, before John O’Neill tied the game with a point which proved to be last score of normal time, and there was still seven minutes to play.

DLS had a goal ruled out for a square infringement to add to the drama and at the end of normal time, the sides were deadlocked at 2-7 to 1-10.

There was no separating the teams in the first period of extra time at the end of which they were still tied after the sides shared six points.

In the second period a point-blank save by DLS ‘keeper Stephen O’Keeffe from Aidan McCormack denied Thurles what would have been a winning goal.

Just when it appeared there was going to be no further drama, Killian Fitzpatrick edged the champions in front with a point. It would have been cruel on Thurles to have lost, but they weren’t to be denied, and John O’Neill who had a superb second half, came to their rescue with a magnificent equalising point from out on the touch line to force a replay.

Scores for DLS: S. Power 0-8 (0-7 frees); O. O’Mahony 1-2; P. McCarthy 1-0; K. Fitzgerald 0-2.

Scores for Thurles CBS: K. Morris 0-5 (0-4 frees); J. O’Neill 1-3; P. O’Brien 0-3; D. Butler, C. Shelley, A. McCormack, M. Russell 0-1 each.

DLS: S. O’Keeffe; R. Cunningham, B. Coughlan, O. Keevers; N. O’Connors, P. Mahony, S. Daniels; D. Purcell, E. Barrett; J. Dillon, N. Clifford, P. McCarthy; S. Power, B. O’Sullivan, P. Mahony.

Subs: P. Farrelly for Dillon; K. Fitzgerald for Purcell; D. Purcell for Farrelly.

THURLES CBS: B. McCormack; S. Maher, K. O’Gorman, P. Ryan; M. Doyle, J. Barry, R. Ryan; D. Maher, P. O’Brien; C. Shelley, M. Russell, C. Ryan; D. Butler, K. Morris, J. O’Neill.

Subs: A. McCormack for C. Ryan; M. Greene for Morris; P. Looby for Russell.

Referee: J. McGrath (Meath).