Holders Athenry VS qualified for the All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior hurling final with an eight-point victory over Scoil Ruaine, Killenaule, at Banagher yesterday. The Galway side led by a point at half-time, having played against a strong wind and always looked favourites to win after that. On a bitterly cold day, the wind had a vital bearing on the game and Killenaule didn't make enough use of it in the first half, hitting a lot of early wides. Paul Coen was the attacking star for Athenry, scoring 1-4 from play. His goal after seven minutes gave them a great start. Killenaule hit back and Donal Shelly levelled after 15 minutes with a great shot to the roof of the net from 25 yards.

An ugly melee two minutes from the end resulted in the dismissals of Athenry's David Forde and Killenaule's Shelly.

ATHENRY: C Cloonan; B Lohan, C Callanan, T Kelly; P Collins, D Forde, I Daniels; P Cormican 0-1, S Burke; C Coen 0-4, M Coughlan 1-1, P Forde 0-1; P Coen 1-4, C Connolly, K Callanan 0- 1. Subs: A Cullinane for Connolly, T Rooney for Kelly.

KILLENAULE: J Caesar; J Hogan, N O'Grady, D Ryan; A Tobin, P Curran 0-1, J Gilfoyle; N O'Dwyer, V Doheney; D Shelly 2-2, T Doyle, P O'Shea; P Kerwick, J Gleeson 0-1, C O'Donnell. Sub: D Blake for O'Shea.

Referee: P Delaney (Laois).