De La Salle retain crown

MUNSTER COLLEGES SH A Final/De La Salle, Waterford 1-11 Thurles CBS 0-7THE MASTERMIND of De La Salle's second successive Dr Harty Cup success has revealed the secrets behind his team's remarkable team spirit.

Derek McGrath and his backroom team took preparation to new levels as the squad took in an English soccer clash at Sunderland and went to the dogs at Shelbourne Park in recent weeks.

"We brought all of the squad to Sunderland and we stayed in Dublin's Citywest Hotel after the greyhound races last Saturday week, but the lads funded all of that themselves because it's not as if we have a private school ethos," said McGrath.

De La Salle became the first team since St Colman's in 2004 to successfully defend the Harty Cup and they will now look to retain their All-Ireland title.

Thurles CBS, who were bidding to land a first Harty crown since 1956, will meet Kilkenny CBS in a back-door clash, but this was the one they wanted.

In front of 5,000 spectators at Cashel's Leahy Park on Saturday, they were in the hunt until Peter McCarthy struck the killer goal for DLS nine minutes into the second half. Three minutes before, goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe had pulled off a great diving save to deny Thurles midfielder Denis Maher a certain goal.

McGrath said: "The save was the turning point because Thurles were pressing. Then we went up the field a couple of minutes later and scored the goal."

DLS, with the breeze at their backs, held a 0-7 to 0-3 half-time advantage, and after the crucial goal, they produced a magnificent defensive performance.

DLS will provide four of the six defenders on the Waterford minor team, and McGrath paid a special word of tribute to Noel Connors, who nullified the threat of Tipp's 2007 All-Ireland minor medallist John O'Neill.

DLS were also inspired by the free-taking prowess of Stephen Power, who had seven points, including one superb sideline cut.

DE LA SALLE:S O'Keeffe; R Cunningham, B Coughlan, O Keevers; N Connors, Philip Mahony, S Daniels; D Purcell (0-1),E Barrett; J Dillon, N Clifford (0-1), P McCarthy (1-2); S Power (0-7 (six frees, one sl),B O'Sullivan, Pauric Mahony. Subs:P Farrelly for Purcell (52 mins), B Norris for Cunningham (62 mins).

THURLES CBS:B McCormack; S Maher, K O'Gorman, P Ryan; M Doyle, J Barry (0-1 free),R Ryan; D Maher, P O'Brien; C Shelley (0-1),M Greene, C Ryan (0-1); J O'Neill (0-1), D Butler (0-2, two frees), K Morris (0-1, free). Subs:M Russell for Greene (46 mins), A McCormack for Shelley (51 mins), P Looby for R Ryan (54 mins), P Molloy for Butler (57)

Referee: G Hoey(Clare).