Leinster Final success for St Kieran's a 'big boost' - Jeff Neary

St Kierans were crowned Leinster PPS Corn Ui Dhuill Senior Hurling Champions for a 57th time on Wednesday, after they outclassed near neighbours Kilkenny CBS in a very one sided final at UPMC Nowlan Park by 2-21 to 0-5.

Goals from Sean Hunt and Aaron McEvoy helped St Kieran's on their way to an All-Ireland Semi-Final, while Kilkenny CBS must dust themselves down for an All-Ireland Quarter-Final the weekend after next.

"It's a brilliant feeling because we lost last year and it was very tough to win that so thank god we won that today against a tough CBS team," captain of St Kieran's College, Jeff Neary, said.

"When you’re playing a game like that it's never comfortable at all, you're always thinking two steps ahead, getting the next one and the next one, doing better and better, the score difference today doesn't really reflect the two teams because we only a point in it by a point in the league."

The Graigue Ballycallan man was also immensely proud to celebrate the achievement with teammates he has shared a pitch and a classroom with for the past number of years.

"Being with these lads for the last six years we knew this was our last game in Leinster so we knew we had to win it and thank god we did, unreal."

However after some much-deserved celebrations, it's full steam ahead now for the 2024 Leinster Champions as the St Kieran's captain eyes up the next challenge.

"It’s a big boost being Leinster Champions but it doesn’t mean anything come the next game, you could easily get knocked out so we just move on to the next game."