Gaelcholáiste Mhuire defeat De La Salle to secure return to Dean Ryan Cup final

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Callum ÓCoffaigh, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG celebrates his goal. Pic: Dan Linehan

Dean Ryan Cup semi-final

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 2-16

De La Salle, Waterford 0-17

Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG are back in the Dean Ryan Cup final thanks to a hard-earned five-point victory over De La Salle, Waterford.

The North Mon representatives last won the Munster U17A title in 1990 but will have every chance to add an 11th success against Midleton CBS in a fortnight.

They displayed dead-eyed accuracy to avenge the school's Harty Cup loss to the same opponents, taking 10 shots fewer than De La Salle but converting 82% of those attempts. The Waterford side will rue their 12 wides as they relied on frees to work the scoreboard.

The first few minutes shaped up nicely for De La Salle. Andrew and Shane Power claimed high catches from opposition puck-outs and they translated that into three points via Jamie Shanahan (0-2, 1 free) and a Shane Power free.

The logic of the AG's long puck-outs would soon become clear. In the 10th minute, Lúcás Ó Muirthile gobbled up a breaking ball and fed Callum Ó Cofaigh to rifle home his fifth goal in two games.

Gabhán Ó Ceallacháin bookended that score with placed balls for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

Before long, Craig Ó Suilleabháin snatched two more restarts from the air and lashed over both.

Another dead-ball brace from Shanahan cut the deficit to the minimum as Shane Power had a shot saved by Seán Mac Cárthaigh Mac Héi.

Nathan Ó Coffaigh, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG looking to tackle Daragh Keane, De La Salle, College, Waterford in the Dean Ryan U17A Munster Hurling Championship semi-final at Bansha, Co Tipperary. Pic: Dan Linehan

But the AG reeled off the final four points of the half with three coming from Ó Ceallacháin including a superb pair from play. 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

De La Salle had produced major comebacks to beat Thurles CBS and St Flannan's and they weren't easily deterred. By the 40th minute, they were level for the first time.

AG indiscipline cost them five scoreable frees, of which the Power twins and Shanahan converted four. Then, backed onto the sideline, Shanahan threw a brilliant dummy to escape down the flank and equalise off his left; 1-8 to 0-11.

They traded points but De La Salle never retook the lead with Cian O'Sullivan and Mikey Moloney cancelling out an Ó Ceallacháin free and Evan Mac Eocháin's first of a prodigious final quarter.

In the 49th minute, another long restart was secured by Ó Muirthile and his supply found Mac Eocháin to dispatch a rocket to the net. An Ó Ceallacháin free padded out the gap to four; 2-11 to 0-13.

The AG management complained of a 17-7 free count as Shane Power twice trimmed the deficit back to one score either side of Ó Suilleabháin's fourth.

After Ó Ceallacháin's eighth point came De La Salle's best chance of a revival. Shane Power was switched into full-forward and soon laid off for youngster Moloney to volley goalward. The sliotar rebounded back off of Mac Cárthaigh Mac Héi and out for a 65.

Conor Power did the needful but Ó Cofaigh restored the four-point cushion after more hard work by the relentless Ó Muirthile.

Shane Power flashed a snapshot over the bar but the AG saw out the three minutes of stoppages with points from Mac Eocháin and Ó Muirthile.

The power of the victory was such that one sub cast his crutches up and away as if cured to race onto the field in celebration.

Imagine the scenes if they win it out.

Scorers for Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG: G Ó Ceallacháin (0-8, 5 fs, 1 65); E Mac Eocháin (1-2); C Ó Cofaigh (1-1); C Ó Suilleabháin (0-4); L Ó Muirthile (0-1).

Scorers for De La Salle: S Power (0-7, 6 fs); J Shanahan (0-6, 4 fs); C Power (0-2, 1 f, 1 '65); M Moloney (0-1).

GAELCHOLÁISTE MHUIRE AG: S Mac Cárthaigh Mac Héi (Glen Rovers); J Ó Conchúir (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), S Ó Laocha (St Vincent's); J Ó Criagáin (Na Piarsaigh), R Ó Buachalla (Glen Rovers), S Ó Buachalla Ó Néill (Na Piarsaigh); R Ó Caoinleáin (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó Brosnacháin (Glen Rovers); G Ó Ceallacháin (Glen Rovers), E Mac Eocháin (Glen Rovers), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh); N Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), C Ó Suilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh).

Sub: A Ó Murchú (St Vincent's) for Ó Buachalla Ó Néill (47).

DE LA SALLE: J Comerford (Ballygunner); R Crowley (Ballygunner), D Keane (De La Salle), A Power (Ballygunner); E O'Reilly (Ballygunner), C Power (De La Salle), J Power (Ballygunner); S Power (De La Salle), E Burke (Roanmore); C O'Sullivan (Ballygunner), J Shanahan (Erin's Own), D Hearne (Roanmore); T Ryan (De La Salle), D Hickey (Ballygunner), D Doyle (De La Salle).

Subs: M Moloney (Ballygunner) for Ryan (42), C Crowley (Ballygunner) for Hearne (53), C Sherlock (Ballygunner) for O'Sullivan (59), J Walsh (Mount Sion) for Doyle (60+2).

Referee: J Bugler (Whitegate).