St Kieran's College provide yet more drama in All-Ireland Semi-Final - Kilkenny Live

A goal four and a half minutes into injury time from Dan Carroll gave St. Kieran’s a sensational victory over Nenagh CBS in Rathdowney this afternoon in the Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools A Hurling Semi-Final.

It was the first time the Kilkenny school led in this pulsating encounter and the goal was the result of a brilliant closing ten minutes from the winners. During that period, St. Kieran’s aided by the breeze, scored 1-5 without reply. Opponents Nenagh CBS failed to raise a flag in those crucial closing stages.

For much of the game Nenagh CBS were the better side, especially in the opening half when helped by the breeze they held a deserved five point lead entering the closing stages of the half.

St Kieran’s struggled for scores during that period, depending on four points from placed ball from Conor McEvoy. But on 25 minutes, Jake Mullan, who started at midfield an later moved into the attack took a pass from Diarmuid Behan to score St. Kieran’s opening goal. It was a huge score on the cusp of the interval, and with the margin now at two points and the breeze in their backs in the second half the Kilkenny school very much back in the game.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny suffer first loss of camogie league campaign as Cork take the spoils

Points from Conor McEvoy (free) and a Gearoid O’Shea brace had the sides level on seven minutes into the new half. The momentum now appeared to be with St. Kieran’s but one minute later Eanna Tucker picked up a breaking ball to score his side’s first goal. Six minutes later Joe O’Dwyer grabbed their second with a one-handed flick to the Kiernan’s net.

The Kilkenny school needed to respond and none led better than team captain David Barcoe who had an inspired second half. Nenagh CBS captain Eoghan Doughan continued to pop over the frees for his school, but St. Kieran’s helped by a number of astute substitutions were gradually starting to dominate.

Nenagh CBS led by five points with seven minutes of normal time remaining, but struggled to handle the incessant pressure from the winners for the remainder of the game. When David Barcoe tied the game in injury time with a superb long-distance point, extra time seems odds-on. But as the game ebbed to a conclusion up popped Dan Carroll to flick the ball between a defender and goalkeeper for the priceless match-winning goal.

It was a sensational finale to a great game. St. Kieran’s showed huge heart to maintain the pressure on their opponent in the closing quarter and they were ultimately rewarded for their efforts as they now head to Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day for the All-Ireland Final where they will play Presentation College, Athenry who defeated St. Flann’s (Ennis) in the second semi-final this afternoon.

FOR MORE KILKENNY GAA NEWS, CLICK HERE