De La Salle College manager Mark Moore was proud of his charges despite a 2-17 to 2-8 defeat to reigning champions Midleton CBS in this afternoon's Harty Cup quarter final at Fraher Field.
"We went back the last weekend of July and we've had fifty sessions together all told. We played three challenge matches over the Christmas. I've been with these guys since first year and I've never been prouder of a group. They're great guys on the field but, more importantly, they're even better guys off the field."
Goals from Reuben Halloran and Tom Gallagher left them only two points behind entering the last quarter but the East Cork school got the last five scores of the contest including a late goal from Noel Cahill.
Top scorer Ryan McCarthy sent over seven points including a magnificent first half effort into the country goal. In the thirteenth minute, the Killeagh man missed the pick on a free but whipped on the ball from 60 metres out and it flew over the crossbar.
Patrick Fitzgerald, who is under 16 with Ballygunner, hit three points for De La Salle. They finished with fourteen men as Mark Fitzgerald was red carded in injury time.