Classy Dublin South hold all the aces

COLLEGES' DIGEST:DUBLIN SOUTH were handed a dream draw yesterday when they received a bye into the Leinster Senior Colleges 'A' final where they will await the winners of St Kieran's College and Kilkenny CBS in a fortnight's time.

Dublin South had by virtue of their one point win over Castlecomer CS seven days ago overcome the toughest task of their round robin programme and yesterday they recorded a comprehensive 5-20 to 0-8 win over Presentation De La Salle Bagenalstown at Kiltipper Road.

Dublin South's slick play seeing them open up an unassailable 15 point lead at the break. For Bagenalstown, promoted to the top grade having won the B championship last year, the task proved a bridge too far.

The home side were headed just once in the game when Micheal Meanui sent off an early free for the visitors.

But with Dublin South defence keeping things tight at the back, the home side soon found their stride following unanswered points from Peter Elliott, Seán McGrath, Danny Sutcliffe and Barry Mulligan.

Dublin South found the back of the net on 11 minutes when Darren McVeigh showed quick hands to release McGrath who duly batted the ball past the Bagenalstown keeper.

Dublin South added four further points to their tally when a ball played in by Mulligan on 20 minutes found McGrath on the edge of the square and the latter's shot spun off the keeper's hurl and into the bottom corner.

And McGrath continued to torment the Bagenalstown defence, a well struck sideline ball from the left the pick of his five first half points as Dublin South led 2-12 to 0-3 at half-time.

The second half had barely just begun when McVeigh grabbed Dublin South's third goal with acting captain and 2008 Dublin minor, Kevin O'Loughlin and Mulligan (2) following suit with three unanswered points.

Conor Murphy scored Dublin's fourth goal before full forward, Ciaran Brennan, added the final goal with three minutes remaining.

DUBLIN COLLEGES SOUTH:G MacManus; J Doughal, E Young, C O'Doherty; R Hardy, B O' Carroll, G McMorrow; D Murphy, D Sutcliffe (0-2); P Elliott (0-2), D McVeigh (1-0), K O'Loughlin (0-4), S McGrath (2-5, two frees, one sl), C Brennan (1-3), B Mulligan (0-3). Subs: C Murphy (1-1) for McGrath, S de Paor for O'Doherty, E McKenna for Hardy (all HT) C McMahon for Doughal (37 mins), S Jordan for Murphy (42 mins), E Small for McMorrow (51 mins), M O'Dwyer for Sutcliffe, R Cleary for Murphy (58 mins each).

PRESENTATION DE LA SALLE BAGENALSTOWN:A Townsend; J O'Connor, J Hughes, G Dillion; J Holden (0-5, two frees), J Ryan, D Galway; T Nolan, M Meanui (0-1, one free); A Beaton, H Gahan (0-1), J Doyle (0-1); S Whelan, P Drennan, J O' Brien. Subs: E Butler for Galway (42 mins), M Lonergan for O'Connor (44 mins), B Hourihane for O'Brien (51 mins). Referee: B Gregg (Liffey Gaels).

• A CRUCIAL Dr Harty Cup clash between Ard Scoil Ris of Limerick, and Pobalscoil na Trionaide of Youghal ended in consternation yesterday amid confusion over the final scoreline. Confusion reigned at the final whistle as the referee was alleged to have deemed the game to have been won by 4-13 to 4-12 by the Youghal side. However the official scoreline for the Dr Harty Cup 'Group A' game has been confirmed as 4-13 to 4-13. As things stand Ard Scoil Ris now progress to the quarter finals as winners of Group A, while Blackwater Community School of Lismore are runners-up. An appeal has not been ruled out by the Youghal side.

• KILMACUD CROKES will be worried over the fitness of marquee full forward Mark Vaughan after he came off injured 25 minutes into DIT's Ryan Cup 1-7 to 0-7 quarter-final defeat to UUJ yesterdaycomplaining of pain in his right knee.

Promising Tyrone defender Damien McCaul suffered a more serious knee injury 15 minutes into the second half and the game was held up for over 30 minutes as the players and management waited for an ambulance to arrive.