St Kieran’s College edge all-Kilkenny decider

St Kieran’s College 2-12 Kilkenny CBS 1-11

St Kieran’s College made the best of goal chances and it paid off when they won this Kilkenny derby final to claim their 54th Leinster colleges senior hurling championship.

Kilkenny CBS opened well and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after 11 minutes, with top scorer Sean Bolger already their star man. A goal in the 18th minute from Adrian Mullen turned the match on its head as Kieran’s got 1-3 to 0-5 in front.

At half-time the score was all square, 1-3 to 0-6.

The CBS took off again and got 0-9 to 1-4 in front by the 39th minute. This time a point from Mullen followed by a good individual goal from Martin Keoghan turned things around (2-5 to 0-9) and Kieran’s roared on to victory.

Both had a man sent off before the finish, but the CBS will pay a heavy price because their man was shown a straight red card and he will miss this weekend’s All-Ireland quarter-final clash with championship favourites, Ard Scoil Ris (Limerick).

St Kieran's College - D. Phelan; C. Byrne, N. Delaney, E. Carroll; T. Walsh, D. Mullen, M. Kenny; M. Cody, E. Delaney (0-1); A. Mullen (1-9, 0-8 frees), J. Connolly, M. Keoghan (1-0); S. Carey (0-1), J. Cuddihy (0-1), E. Moylan. Subs: C. Prenderville for N. Delaney; V. Costello for M. Kenny; W. Spencer for Keoghan.

Kilkenny CBS - L. Dunphy; K. Ryan, C. Flynn, C. Fitzpatrick; D. Dunne, M. Drennan (1-0), S. Mahony; C. Doheny, N. Brassil; C. Cavanagh, J. Leahy, J. McEvoy; B. Sheehan, S. Bolger (0-11, 10 frees), C. Heary. Subs: J. Molloy for C. Heary; R. Buckley for K. Ryan.

Referee - P Murphy (Carlow)