De La Salle's first Munster Club SHC final appearance ended in a thrilling two-point win over Adare at Semple Stadium this afternoon.
The Waterford city side secured the O'Neill Cup with late scores from man-of-the-match John Mullane and Thomas Kearney.
Two Conor Fitzgerald frees helped Adare to a 0-05 to 0-00 half-time lead.
Adare, managed by former Clare hurler Ger O'Loughlin, were defensively sound in the opening quarter-hour with Mark Foley and company clearing well.
Liam Costello opened the scoring in the 13th minute and the Limerick champions, despite some poor wides, managed to string together the points as the half progressed, with Fitzgerald and Diarmuid Sexton amongst the scorers.
De La Salle, conquerors of Sarsfields at the semi-final stage, added life to their challenge by notching their first point through Bryan Phelan a minute into the second half.
De La Salle manager Owen Dunphy made three quick substitutions and they gradually had an effect, despite two Costello points nudging Adare into a seven-point lead.
'The Bull' Phelan pointed again before Mullane gobbled up a loose ball, outside the Adare square, and turned onto his left before firing a bullet of a shot to the Adare net.
That 41st-minute goal turned the game temporarily in the Waterford champions' favour and they were soon back level with points from Seamus Richardson and the talismanic Mullane.
They had tightened things up at the back, with centre-back Kevin Moran in outstanding form, and though Donncha Sheehan managed to edge Adare ahead again, De La Salle's final spurt saw them claim a memorable maiden win.
