Penalty joy for Kilkenny CBS in all-city Leinster Junior Final

Age old rivals St. Kieran’s College and Kilkenny CBS served up a hurling classic in the Leinster Post Primary Schools Junior ‘A’ Hurling Final in UPMC Nowlan Park on Tuesday afternoon.

In the end the result came down to penalties with Kilkenny CBS showing the keener eye for goal to win a memorable contest 3-1.

For a long period the James Street school looked as if they would win the title, but a strong finish for Kieran’s in normal
time, which included a flicked goal from Jake Mullen, saw the teams play out a 1-15 draw.

The winners were the better side in the first half. With both teams playing a sweeper, the space for scoring was at a premium.

From the early moments of the game, it was clear that Ollie O’Donovan (KK CBS) and Jake Mullen (SKC) would play key roles in deciding the outcome of this final.

The CBS led by the minimum margin on nine minutes when Ollie O’Donovan won possession after Kieran’s failed to clear.

The young John Lockes player worked his way in along the endline to hit an unstoppable shot past Cian Dermody in the SKC goal from the narrowest of angles.

The winners were playing the better hurling at that stage, but they were grateful superb goalie Rian Dowling who brilliantly saved a Jake Mullen penalty on twenty minutes.

The CBS with Ollie O’Donovan, Josh Dowling, Oisin Henderson and Sam O’Shea to the fore deservedly led 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

Kieran’s rejigged their team at the start of the second half bringing on Jack Rhatigan and Mattie Corr. Both played key roles in bringing Kieran’s back into the game, especially Rhatigan, who although playing at wing back landed two important points, but he also set up a few more scores for his colleagues.

Eleven minutes into the second half the CBS led by six points, but Kieran’s were slowly edging their way back into the game.

Three pointed frees from Jake Mullen and another from out the field from Ben McEvoy left two points between the sides.

But there was no stopping player of the match O’Donovan with his superb striking landing three more points for the James Street school to see them ahead by five points.

With four minutes remaining, excluding injury time, Kieran’s knew that time was not on their side, but they continued to press forward. The winner’s defence, excellent all through the game, were now coming under incessant pressure.

Two pointed frees from Jake Mullen left a goal between the sides and four minutes into injury time the young Shamrocks player got a flick to a dropping ball to steer it over the line to tie the game.

Referee Sean Higgins continued with the game and two minutes later Jake Mullen looked to have won it for Kieran’s when he pointed another free.

But the drama was not over yet, as straight from the puck out the CBS worked the ball out to Luke McDonald who tied the game and sent it to extra time.

Midfielder Adam Maher pointed for the CBS on the restart, but the rest of the scores in that first period of extra time came from Ollie O’Donovan (CBS) and Jake Mullan (SKC).

The pendulum edged Kieran’s way early in the second period of extra time when Jake Mullen evaded his marker Oisin Henderson to flick a long delivery to the back of the CBS net.

But showing huge character the CBS responded with four unanswered points through Sam O’Shea, Jake Barcoe and a brace from Ollie O’Donovan.

With the CBS followers willing the referee to call full-time, Kieran’s mounted one late attack and it saw defender Jack Rhatigan score the equalising point to send the game to penalties.

It was a most unsatisfactory way to decide the outcome of this schools final.

Over the ninety or so minutes of play, Kilkenny CBS were the better team and when it came to penalties they were more clinical than their cross-city rivals.

The winners have waited a long time to win back this Junior title and they were not going to be denied on this occasion.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny CBS- Ollie O’Donovan (1-14, 0-11 frees), Sam O’Shea (0-3), Luke McDonald (0-2), Adam Maher, Joe Dowling,  Jake Barcoe 0-1, each).

St. Kieran’s College- Jake Mullan (2-14, 0-10 frees and 0-1 ’65), Jack Rhatigan (0-2), Gearoid O’Shea, Ruairi Power, Ben McEvoy (0-1, each).

Kilkenny CBS- Rian Dowling (Dicksboro), Noah Gibbons (Dicksboro), David McGee (O'Loughlin Gaels), Robbie Lacey (Dicksboro), Eoghan Lynch (John Lockes), Josh Dowling (Erin's Own), Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Adam Maher (O'Loughlin Gaels), Padraic Meany (Clara), Joe Dowling (Dicksboro), Sam O’Shea (Dicksboro), Luke McDonald (O'Loughlin Gaels), Eoin Moore (Dicksboro), Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Jake Barcoe (Barrow Rangers).

Subs used – Patrick Sinnott (Danesfort).

St. Kieran’s College- Cian Dermody (James Stephens), Sean Kavanagh (Dicksboro), Ben Nevin (Thomastown), Paul Kirwan (Rower Inistioge), Paddy Grace (John Lockes), Gearoid O’Shea (St Molleran's, Tipperary), Oliver Phelan (James Stephens), Jack Bolger (Barrow Rangers), Roman Connolly (Thomastown), Jamie Walsh (Bennettsbridge), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks), Dan Carroll (Dicksboro), Ruairi Power (James Stephens) Ben McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan), Cormac Neary (Graigue Ballycallan).

Subs used – Jack Rhatigan (Conahy Shamrocks), Mattie Corr (Danesfort), Andrew Holohan (O'Loughlin Gaels), Ned Spellman (Rower Inistioge), Noah Power (Carrick Swan, Tipperary).

Referee – Sean Higgins (Laois).