St Kieran’s claim 26th national title in Croke Park battle
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Masita All-Ireland PPS Croke Cup Senior A hurling final
Croke Park
St Kieran’s College 3-19
Presentation College Athenry 2-16
For a 26th time, St Kieran’s College have been crowned the All-Ireland Senior A colleges champions. The breeding ground for so many of Kilkenny’s hurling fraternity, defeated Presentation College Athenry by 6 points in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day. This was the illustrious College’s third title in just four years and highlights the great work being done in St Kieran’s to foster the hurling education of those in attendance. While Kieran’s celebrated their Croke Cup success, it was yet again more pain for the Athenry school. This was their fifth defeat in the prestigious decider and the fourth inflicted by the Kilkenny outfit.
For large parts of the final, Presentation College hurled well, with a touch more fluidity than the Noresiders, but Brian Dowling’s side were always in the game and their experience and conditioning told as the decider reached its climax. Having claimed a 60th Leinster schools title in early February, you sensed St Kieran’s were confident of breaking their opponent’s hearts once more when push came to shove. The Galway boys settled more quickly, the impressive Ronan Cahalan and Ciarán Leen got early scores for Michael Finn’s charges, but the black and white hooped side struck a major when a tremendous burst up field by Louis Raggett saw Gearóid O’Shea fire to the net to level matters after eight minutes at the Jones’ Road venue.
Galway minor star Cian Hannon, playing in his second consecutive schools cup final struck a lovely green flag raiser of his own but the Marble city side responded by notching four scores on the bounce courtesy of a brace from Conor McEvoy and points from Fionn Mahony and Jake Mullen, the youngest of Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Clan Mullen, to leave them narrowly ahead by the 21st minute. The westerners had a purple patch of their own, and with Ronan Cahalan in sparking form, Michael Finn’s side led by the bare minimum at the short whistle, 1-9 to 1-8.
The Kilkenny side who have had a great impact and return from their bench this season, made one change at the interval, Brian Hickey replacing Ned Spelman in attack and this change didn’t take long to produce, as Hickey got on the scoresheet having been heavily involved in the opening stages of the second period. Athenry’s Anthony Poniard then showed great skill and balance as blitzed through the Kieran’s defence for a couple of stunning scores. The decider continued in this vein; both finalists landing blows on each other as the games ebbed and flowed with those in attendance no clearer on which team might claim victory, as the sides were deadlocked on several occasions during the third quarter.
With the game entering the final straight, St Kieran’s upped the ante and took command. Midfielder Gearoid O’Shea added to more points to his afternoon’s work, Fionn Mahony rifled over as did sub-Dan Carroll as the hooped side showed their nous, but the defining score was about to come.
Having had a great club season with Danesfort, Mahony took a pass out on the left before racing clear of his marker. The No.14 then fired a fierce shot off his left side that hit the net. On the sideline, the management team celebrated the major score; they knew its value was more than three points. St Kieran’s weren’t finished there, another goal followed, from Dan Carroll and to their credit, Presentation College kept plugging away and struck a major of their own via sub Matthew Cloonan, but when the long whistle sounded, it was victory and a 26th Croke Cup for St Kieran’s College Kilkenny. Full time score in Croke Park: St Kieran’s College 3-19, Presentation College Athenry 2-16.
St Kieran’s College scorers: F Mahony (1-4); G O’Shea (1-3); D Carroll (1-1); C McEvoy (0-4, 1 65, 1 free); J Mullen (0-3, 1 free); B Nevin, C Holohan, B Hickey, D Barcoe (0-1 each).
Presentation College Athenry scorers: C Leen (0-7, 3 frees, 1 65); R Cahalan (0-5); C Hannon, M Cloonan (1-0 each); A Poniard (0-3); I Leen (0-1).
St Kieran’s College: C Dermody; B McEvoy, L Phelan, D Barcoe; B McDermott, L Raggett, B Nevin; D Behan, J Mullen (0-3, 1f); N Spelman, F Mahony, C McEvoy; G O’Shea, C Holohan, E Cahill.
Subs: B Hickey for Spelman h/t, D Carroll for Cahill 49, R McEvoy for Holohan 57, J Power for C McEvoy 62.
Presentation College, Athenry: C Mannion; É McDonagh, M Lewis, R McGlynn; C Donoghue, R Burke, S Brady; I Leen, A McDonagh; R Cahalan, N McCarthy, C Hannon; C Leen, A Poniard, N Kelly.
Subs: R Murphy for Kelly 40, M Cloonan for McCarthy 45, M Cox for I Leen 57, J Dunleavy for McGlynn 62.
Ref: T Walsh (Waterford)
