De La Salle in a canter

Reigning champions De La Salle blitzed An Rinn 4-17 to 0-11 in the Waterford SHC on Saturday, with Jake Dillon rattling home 3-6, as Derek McGrath’s men secured their second win of the Group 1 campaign.

De La Salle coasted to a 2-9 to 0-4 lead at half-time despite playing into a stiff breeze at Fraher Field. The sides were level at 0-3 apiece after a tight opening quarter but Salle routed their opponents thereafter. Dillon sent a low drive to the net on 19 minutes and Dean Twomey added another green flag on the stroke of half time.

With the wind behind them they showed no mercy. Dillon struck his second from a 21m free on 43 minutes and completed his hat-trick a minute later on his way to accumulating a whopping 4-14 after two championship outings.

Fourmilewater joined De La Salle at the top of Group 1 with a 2-12 to 0-13 win over Tallow in Cappoquin.

Two goals from Jamie Barron gave Fourmile’ a 2-5 to 0-8 interval lead after playing against the elements but the game turned sour when he and Aiden Kearney were shown straight red cards for an off the ball incident after 41 minutes and referee Jim Murphy also brandished six yellow cards. Shane Walsh and Shane Ryan scored five points between them in the final quarter to seal the win for Fourmilewater.

In Group 2, Mount Sion also collected their second success after sneaking past Abbeyside, 1-18 to 1-15. The sides were level 11 times before Sion outscored their opponents by four points to one in the final quarter.

Wind assisted Abbeyside led by 1-12 to 1-10 at the break, Patrick Hurney flicking to the net in the third minute.

In a see-saw first half, Sion bounced back when Stephen Roche rifled home on eight minutes.

Ian O’Regan denied Patrick Hurney his second major with a spectacular save as Abbeyside nudged ahead by two at half-time.

After a tense third quarter, the sides were all square at 1-14 apiece. County minor Austin Gleeson, who contributed nine points, edged Sion in front with seven minutes left and they pushed on as Stephen Roche, Gavin Carroll and Eoin McGrath registered late points.

Elsewhere in Group 2, Ballygunner recovered from an opening round defeat to ease past Roanmore (1-20 to 0-11) in an ill-tempered affair.

The game was marred by a 30-man scuffle which broke out in the opening minutes but no cards were issued. Brian O’Sullivan’s fifth minute goal gave Ballygunner breathing space as they consigned the Sky Blues to their second loss.

The two remaining fixtures (Dungarvan versus Passage and Lismore versus Ballyduff Upper) were postponed due to bereavements in the Dungarvan and Ballyduff Upper clubs.