Hibs get back to winning ways
Mark McManus wheels away in delight after scoring for Hibs against De La Salle in the Azzurri Premier League at Mitchell Kennedy Park on Sunday last. Photo: Paul Elliott
Hibernians moved into second place on the Azzurri Premier League table thanks to a brace of goals from striker Ben Walshe and a good performance from the whole squad. The home side are a young team who play fast attacking football and are capable of scoring plenty of goals. De La Salle gave it their best shot, but it looked as if the two games in four days were just too much for them.
Hibs went close to going in front after five minutes of play when Daire O’Keeffe got away down the right flank, and his near-post cross was side-footed wide by Lee Kavanagh. Paul Butler’s side took the lead on 15 minutes when O’Keeffe floated a cross into the box, striker Jack Waring showed a neat touch before firing home past the diving Conor Cummins.
At the other end, De La Salle striker Alex Phelan got free down the right. He sent in a low cross, but there was no teammate at the far post to take advantage. Hibs went close again on 21 minutes. Lee Kavanagh found space on the edge of the box; his strike was on target, but Ivan Sinnott got back to make a goalsaving block.
The home side doubled their lead three minutes later when Jack Waring played a clever pass to Ben Walshe, who took a step inside before lashing the ball into the roof of the net.
With 38 minutes played, Hibs created another good chance when Waring hit a strong shot on the turn that Conor Cummins saved. The rebound fell to Lee Kavanagh, whose effort was goalbound, but Gavin Power made a brave block.
The half-time team talk in the De La Salle dressing room must have been heated as the visitors came out with all guns blazing for the start of the second half. Five minutes into the half, Alex Phelan took a pass from Oluwatosin Ajayi, and his strike looped over Sean Whitty and into the back of the net.
De La Salle piled on the pressure, but Andrew Power at the heart of the Hibs defence was outstanding. Hibs regained their two-goal cushion with a spectacular goal from Mark McManus.
The centre-back won the ball on the halfway line and took two strides before hitting a 30-yard strike that flew into the top corner of the net.
They scored again on 70 minutes to make it four one, Ben Walshe drifted in off his wing to place a well-placed shot into the far corner beyond the diving Conor Cummins. At the other end, Alex Phelan hit a wonderful volley nine minutes later to make it four goals to two.
On the final whistle, Ben Walshe had a chance to complete his hat trick for Hibs, but his strike from the edge of the box just cleared the crossbar.
Sean Whitty, Craig Keane ( Joe Hawkes ‘77), Andrew Power, Mark McManus, Lee Hennessey, Calum Barry, Daire O’Keeffe, Ben Walshe, Jack Caulfield, Lee Kavanagh. Jack Waring ( Antonio Petrovic ‘70).
Connor Cummins, Diego Hartnett, Tommy McGrath, Gavin Power, Sean Byrne ( Conor Doheny ‘62), Sam Ahearne ( Rhys Fatumoju ‘75), Alex Phelan, Ivan Sinnott (Shqiprim Gashi ‘75), Oluwatosin Ajayi, Michael Hearne ( Jake Mulrooney ‘75), Richard Lapite.
Noel Purcell, assisted by Adam Walsh and Eamonn Rusell.
