Defence drives Flannan’s to victory

St Flannan’s  2-11   De La Salle  1-6
A magnificent defence inspired St Flannan’s College to their twelfth Dean Ryan title and their first since 2006 when they deservedly accounted for De La Salle at Cashel on Wednesday afternoon. The win moved the Ennis college into joint top position on the roll of honour with Thurles CBS.

Flannan’s led from the tenth minute when Dylan Casey hit the first of his seven points in a tie that produced some excellent hurling.
A physically stronger Waterford side started well but, from an early stage, they found it difficult to get past the Flannan’s defence. With Conor Clancy dictating matters at full-back and David Conroy superb at centre-back, they limited a fancied De La Salle attack to just two points from play in the first half.
Barry O’Sullivan gave the Déise outfit the lead in the third minute but this point was cancelled out by a Joe Barry effort in the seventh. Casey gave the winners the lead in the tenth and a minute later he had their first score from a free. Darragh Flynn replied to leave just a point separating the teams at the end of the first quarter.
St Flannan’s received a great boost a minute later when Darragh Gregan’s effort from 35m slipped through the hand of De La Salle goalie Austin Gleeson for the game’s opening goal. It put the winners into a 1-5 to 0-4 lead, which they held at half-time.
As the second half was about to get underway, the referee’s attention was drawn to an incident in the De La Salle half-back line which involved a number of players. This quickly spread to the other end of the pitch where players from both sides were involved.
Match official, John Ryan, Tipperary issued yellow cards to De La Salle wing-back Sam O’Neill and full-forward Tom Mulally and St Flannan’s Darragh Gregan and full-back Conor Clancy. As this was Mulally’s second yellow of the afternoon, it meant the end of his involvement in the game.
St Flannan’s weren’t ruffled and they continued to dominate. They added three points in this quarter, all from frees by Casey to lead 1-8 to 0-4.
Two minutes into the final quarter, Shane O’Donnell scored Flannan’s second goal putting his side 10 points clear. De La Salle threw caution to the wind. Points from Flynn (free) and Jack McCarthy were followed by a Flynn goal.
A magnificent point from Dylan Casey sparked off a storming finish from the Clare side and they added points from Clarecastle pair Joe Barry and Stephen Ward to seal a great victory.
Munster Colleges secretary Michael Forristal presented the trophy to St Flannan’s captain, Shane O’Donnell.
St Flannan’s: Eoin Meehan (Kilmaley); Darragh McMahon (Kilmaley), Conor Clancy (Clarecastle), Mark McGuane (Clarecastle); Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley), David Conroy (Doora-Barefield), Cian Moloney (Kilmaley); Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), Ciaran MacMathuna (Éire Óg); Dylan Casey (Éire Óg), Stephen Ward (Clarecastle), Darragh Gregan (Kilmaley); Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Joe Barry (Clarecastle).
Subs: Nathan Murray (Éire Óg for Gregan; Aonghus Keane (Ballyea) for MacMathuna.
Scorers: Dylan Casey (0-7, 5f); Darragh Gregan, Shane O’Donnell (1-0) each; Joe Barry, Stephen Ward (0-2) each.