LEINSTER COLLEGES 'A' SHC CHAMPIONSHIP: St Kieran's College 5-19 St Brendan's CBS 1-6:ST KIERAN'S College showed a merciless streak against St Brendan's of Birr in Kilkenny yesterday.

The All-Ireland champions rested a number of players, but still had enough in reserve to dish out a 25-point hammering.

St Brendan’s were up against it as early as the sixth minute when they leaked the first goal, a free from midfielder John Power going all the way to the net after a defensive mix-up by the visitors.

That goal pushed St Kieran’s five points clear (1-2 to 0-0) and they showed no signs of stopping, going in at the break six in front, 1-9 to 1-3.

They didn’t slow down in the second half either, taking a firm grip on the game when Thomas O’Hanrahan bagged a brace of goals in quick succession, the scores coming via the good work of Michael Brennan and Power.

Goals from Michael Donnelly and Peter Kenneally helped St Kieran’s cement their place in the semi-finals, which will be played next week.

ST KIERAN'S COLLEGE:S Johnston; L Hickey, P O'Carroll, R O'Hanrahan; G Allen, C O'Neill, E Morrissey; P Butler (0-2), J Power (1-0); P Kenneally (1-1), A Cleere (0-2), T O'Hanrahan (2-2); J Nolan (0-1), M Brennan (0-1), M Donnelly (1-9, 6f). Subs: D Burke (0-1) for Cleere, N Walsh for Allen, M Whitely for T O'Hanrahan, C Wafer for R O'Hanrahan, T Brennan for Nolan.

ST BRENDAN'S CS:K O'Connor; K Dunne, C Guilfoyle, B Connors; M Kennedy, A Browne (0-2), P O'Meara; K Donovan, A Connolly; E Hayes, S O'Connor, B Murphy (0-1); D Clery (0-1), P Hogan (0-2, 1f), C Mulrooney (1-0). Subs: J Molloy for P O'Meara, S Hoctor for E Hayes, G O'Brien for M Kennedy, K Bergin for A Connolly.

Referee: J Guinan (Kilkenny).