There was a scoreboard controversy at the end of this Harty Cup clash as St Flannan’s were declared the winners after De La Salle thought they had snatched a draw.
The Ennis school’s 18th point of the day, from Evan Price, was never registered on the scoreboard, leaving it 0-18 to 0-11 with 49 minutes gone.
It came to be of vital importance after the Waterford representatives, down to 14 players after Charlie Whitty's red card, grabbed two goals through Aaron O’Neill and Thomas Carey in the 60th and 63rd minutes. Flannan’s were one ahead but the scoreboard had it a draw, 0-20 to 2-14.
The Clare players collapsed to the turf at the end, believing they’d dropped a crucial point, until referee Tom Loughnane clarified the correct score had Flannan’s the victors.
It was a cruel blow for De La Salle, who believed they had clinched back-to-back draws with a stoppage-time goal. The scoreboard shaped their approach to the closing stages as it did for Flannan’s, who thought they had to chase a winner as their final attack ended with the sliotar dribbling wide.
More to follow…
Scorers for St Flannan’s: T Boddy (0-9, 8 frees); R Kilroy, L Cleary (0-3 each); J Casey, F Hegarty (0-2 each); E Price, H Doherty (0-1 each).
Scorers for De La Salle, Waterford: T Carey (1-7, 0-7 frees); A O’Neill (1-0); C Carroll, M Hartley (0-2 each); C Tobin, C Hartley, R Doherty (0-1 each).
ST FLANNAN’S: C Howard (Éire Óg Ennis); C Griffin (Clarecastle), F Ó Braoin (Sixmilebridge), P Nagle (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); F Meaney (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, capt), J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), E Price (Clarecastle); J Casey (Kilmaley), I Williams (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); J Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona), F Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), R Kilroy (The Banner); T Boddy (Bruff), L Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis), H Doherty (Clarecastle).
Subs: G Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Mescall (39), K McDonnell (Ballyea) for Kilroy (53), M Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis) for L Cleary (60+2).
DE LA SALLE, WATERFORD: C Barrett (Roanmore); R Jacob (Passage East), F Cooney (Ballygunner), J Jacob (De La Salle); P Power (Ballygunner), C O'Sullivan (Ballygunner), C Murphy (Ballygunner); S Fleming (Ballygunner), C Tobin (Ballygunner); A Regan (Mount Sion), C Hartley (Ballygunner), T Carey (Passage East); J Kirwan (Mount Sion), C Carroll (Roanmore, j-capt), A O'Neill (Ballygunner, j-capt).
Subs: R Doherty (Mooncoin) for Hartley (34), M Hartley (Ballygunner) for Kirwan (37), C Whitty (Ballygunner) for Power (39), S Power (De La Salle) for Regan (43), R Nolan (Ballygunner) for Jacob (52).
Referee: T Loughnane (Gortnahoe-Glengoole).
