Hogan Cup semi-final:

Abbey CBS, Newry 1-10 De La Salle, Macroom 1-8

Abbey CBS, Newry scored a merited two-point win over a fine De la Salle, Macroom side in this high quality Hogan Cup All-Ireland Colleges SFC A semi-final at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday. This clash of the Ulster v Munster champions brought an attendance of about 1,500 to the neutral Carlow venue and they got first class value for money.

The Abbey played bright, inventive, combination football and were worthy winners of a semi-final which puts the Down school through to a first All-Ireland final at this level where they will meet former All-Ireland champions St. Pat’s of Navan, coached by Colm O’Rourke.

They made a faltering start to this game and found themselves 1-2 to 0-1 in arrears after just eight minutes. That Macroom goal came in the eighth minute from a splendid strike by their centre forward David Goold. Two minutes earlier, Abbey’s goal keeper Cathal Murdock had made a splendid double save from Macroom’s David Goold and Donal O’Sullivan to keep his goal intact. But he had no chance two minutes later when Goold stormed through for a fine goal.

After an indifferent start, the Abbey’s centre back Kevin Dyas stormed into the game, scoring two superb points from play and setting up his side’s only goal. Right full-back Mark Digney was also extremely prominent – the red haired Newry Shamrocks clubman caught, intercepted and cleared a lot of ball.

By half-time, the sides were deadlocked at 1-3 to 0-6.

Within two minutes of the restart, substitute Ruairi Cunningham pointed a free.

This score was quickly followed by another from Kevin Dyas, the Dromintee clubman storming from defence to attack for split the posts.

Richard Gilmore the Ulster Champions’ influential midfielder, quickly added another point from play as Abbey led 0-9 to 1-3.

In the 38th minute, Cathal Magee, from Mayobridge, crashed home a great goal after taking a pass from Dyas.

Abbey now led 1-9 to 1-4 and looked set for a comfortable win.

However, De La Salle rallied strongly and the forwards Donal O’Sullivan and Sean Kiely shot four unanswered points as the Cork School came within a point of their opponents by the 59th minute.

But the Abbey had the final say. They forced a 45 in injury time and Saval’s Niall Devlin pointed the resultant kick.

The Abbey deservedly emerged winners of a game which was a great advertisement for Gaelic football.

Abbey CBS:

C Murdock; M Digney, C Murney; R Grant; D Rowland; K Dyas (0-2); C Coffey; K McKernan (Captain); R Gilmore (0-2); G McGarvey; C Magee (1-0); D Clarke; N Devlin (0-3, 0-1 45), S Murdock, C McGovern (0-1) Subs: R Cunningham (0-2 frees) for McGarvey injured; R Gillen for McGovern.

De La Salle, Macroom:

S Casey; JJ Murphy, Peter Lynch, J Corkery; R Buckley, D Cotter, I Casey; J Ambrose, M McDonagh; J Ryan, D Goold (1-0), P Healy; D O’Sullivan (0-4, 0-2 frees), S Kiely (0-4), Paddy Lynch. Subs: J McCarthy for Murphy; C Dunne for McDonagh. Referee: M Deegan (Laois).

By Irish News