Kilkenny CBS made it a senior hurling league and championship double when they saw off old rivals St Kieran’s 2-9 to 1-7 in the Leinster Colleges A final at a bitterly cold Nowlan Park yesterday. The CBS were pushed towards their first title since 2006 when sub Gary Kelly hit the net to push his side six points clear (2-4 to 0-4) on the brink of half-time.
Defending champions St Kieran’s James Deacy bagged a fine goal right on the break to halve the deficit 2-4 to 1-4.
CBS dominated the opening stages of the second half, with points from Paddy Cahill (free), Luke Scanlon and Paul Delahanty putting them back into a strong position.
St Kieran’s took 14 minutes of the new half to add to their account, with a Stephen Farrell free. Another point from Chris Bolger seemed to give the Saints a way back, but points from Shane Cuddihy and Cahill settled nerves and tilted the title battle their way.
Replay
Elsewhere, last season’s runners up St Patrick’s Maghera are back in another MacRory Cup final after edging past a spirited St Colman’s Newry 1-10 to 0-11 in their replay at Dunmoyle on Saturday.
Danny Tallon’s goal after only three minutes proved the crucial score for St Pat’s who led 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval.
Jack Haughey’s accuracy kept St Colman’s in touch and with ten minutes to go they were awarded a penalty but Dara Noonan fired over.
In Munster, Eamon Fitzmaurice guided Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne to back-to-back Corn Uí Mhuirí Final wins when they recovered from a poor start to go on and put 22-times champions St Brendan’s College Killarney to the sword 1-15 to 1-8 on a perfect sod in the Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney. Cathal Ó Bambaire’s goal proved pivotal to the winners who led 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.
