St. Kieran’s College are back in the last four of the Masita All Ireland Post Primary Schools Championship following a tense, come-from-behind victory over Galway’s St. Raphael’s, Loughrea in Toomevara inn this Dr. Croke Cup final.
The nine-point winning margin doesn’t begin to tell the story of a game that saw the Galway outfit lead by four approaching the final ten minutes, only for Kieran’s to register the final 2-7 to march into the last four.
It is now four victories on the spin for the
College having suffered an opening round defeat to Kilkenny CBC in the Corn Uí Dhúill, as they have firmly found their winning formula.
It sets up a mouthwatering semi-final with Munster champions, Nenagh CBS, who were afforded the direct route to the last four following their Harty Cup success over St. Flannan’s of Clare.
Brian Dowling’s side trailed by three at the interval in testing conditions in Toomevara in North Tipperary, and after both sides had a player dismissed in quarter three, Loughrea emerged into a winning position. However, a goal for the impressive Fionn Mahony and Gearoid O’Shea helped swing the result the way of the Kilkenny pupils.
The Loughrea school were coached by Francis Forde, a selector with the Galway senior hurlers and they looked frequently to marksman Jack Shaughnessy and corner forward Ethan Coleman for inspiration.
Playing wind-assisted, the Connacht side forged 0-11 ahead by half-time, with Shaughnessy, Coleman and Eoghan Mulleady all on target.
In reply, Diarmuid Behan (2), O’Shea and Eoghan Cahill were all on target. There was goal chances aplenty for St. Kieran’s, but they met an inspired Oran Statford in the Loughrea goals.
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men on 42 minutes. Up to a dozen players got embroiled in a melee with Cork referee Shane Scanlon selecting Eoghan Cahill and Rahael’s captain Gavin Maher for red cards.
This jolted the men in red into action, and they rattled off four unanswered. Key here was Mulleady with two but this was the end of the scoring for his side.
Instead, Jake Mullen, Fionn Mahony and free-taker Conor McEvoy changed the mood with scores. It was level 0-16 each by 56 minutes allowing quickfire goals from Mahony, from close range and O’Shea’s improvised finish to put a gap between the sides.
A flurry of points swelled the margin, giving Kieran’s breathing space at the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers
St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny: Fionn Mahony 1-5; Conor McEvoy 0-5 (all frees); Gearoid O’Shea 1-1; Jake Mullen 0-4; Diarmuid Behan 0-3; Eoghan Cahill 0-1.
St. Raphael’s, Loughrea: Jack Shaughnessy 0-5 (all frees); Eoghan Mulleady 0-3; Stephen Keane 0-3 (1f); Ethan Coleman 0-3; Keegan Connaire 0-1; Tadgh Mac Cárthaigh 0-1.
St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny: Cian Dermody (James Stephens); Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Louis Raggett (Dicksboro), Ben Nevin (Thomastown); Bill McDermott (James Stephens), David Barcoe (Clara) (Capt), Ben McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan); Gearoid O’Shea (St. Molleran’s – Waterford), Diarmuid Behan (James Stephens); Conor McEvoy (James Stephens), Fionn Mahoney (Danesfort), Brian Hickey (Dunnamaggin); Conor Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Jake Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Eoghan Cahill (Graigue Ballycallan).
Subs: Joe Power (Clara) for C McEvoy (39 mins); Rob McEvoy (Lisdowney) for Hickey (52 mins); Luke Lawlor (Clara) for McDermott (60 mins).
St. Raphael’s, Loughrea: Oran Statford; Cathal Keane, Mikey Maher, Andrew Keane; Louis Keary, Gavin Maher, Eanna Spellman; Keegan Connaire, Jamie Noone; Stephen Keane, Jack Shaughnessy, Eoghan Mulleady; Eanna Cooney, Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh, Ethan Coleman.
Subs: Cian Connaughton for Shaughnessy (temp, 16-18 mins & 34-37 mins); Connaughton for C Keane (39 mins); Eoghan McClearn for Cooney (57 mins).
Referee: Shane Scanlon (Cork)
