Ruthless Kieran's blast their way to further Leinster Championship glory

St Kierans are Leinster PPS Corn Ui Dhuill Senior Hurling Champions for a 57th time after they outclassed near neighbours Kilkenny CBS in a very one sided final at UPMC Nowlan Park.

After only a point seperated the teams earlier in the group stages, hope was high for a pulsating encounter but the reigning All-Ireland champions were on top for almost the entire game.

Within ten minutes Kierans had raced into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead with St Martins sharpshooter Sean Hunt scoring a cracking goal.

Brian Moore and Ryan Corcoran kept the CBS honest but it was a half that they were chasing shadows for most of and it was essentially game over when Kierans got their second goal via Aaron McEvoy who kicked the sliotar home after originally losing control.

Sean Deely, James Hughes and Rory Glynn were others to knock over points for the winners as they led 2-8 to 0-3 at the half-time interval.

Four points without reply at the start of the second half increased the Kierans lead even further and CBS'S only second half tally came from Ryan Corcoran's third free of the afternoon and a point from sub Niall Drennan.

Kierans were relentless as they scored from all angles and they will be delighted with their performance over the course of the hour with the only negative being Ed McDermott going off injured.

A day to forget for Kilkenny CBS but theymust dust themselves down for an All-Ireland Quarter-Final the weekend after next while Kierans now know they are one win away from return to Croke Park on St Patrick's weekend.

Teams and Scorers

St Kierans College- Aaron McEvoy 1-9 (7fs), Sean Hunt 1-2, James Hughes 0-3 (2fs), Sean Deely, Rory Glynn (0-2 each), James O'Neill, Tomas Roche, Ed McDermott (0-1 each)

Kilkenny CBS- Ryan Corcoran 0-3 (3fs), Brian Moore, Niall Drennan (0-1 each)

St Kierans College- Stephen Manogue (James Stephens); Sean Bergin (James Stephens), Tom Brennan (Clough Ballacolla, Laois), Timmy Kelly (Bennettsbridge); Tom McPhillips (Dicksboro), Jeff Neary (Graigue Ballycallan), Cathal Hickey (St Lachtains); Sean Deely (James Stephens), Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens); Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Aaron McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan), Tomas Roche (John Lockes); Rory Glynn (Clara), Sean Hunt (St Martins), Rory Connellan (Thomastown).

Subs: James Hughes (Bennettsbridge) for McEvoy 20 mins (Blood Sub), Aaron McEvoy for Hughes 23 mins (Blood Sub Reversal), James Hughes for E.McDermott 35 mins, Oisin Bateman (James Stephens) for McPhillips 46 mins, Bill McDermott (James Stephens) for McEvoy 50 mins, James O'Neill (St Martins) for Glynn 52 mins.

Kilkenny CBS- Daniel Power (James Stephens); Patrick Purcell (Barrow Rangers), Josh Dowling (Erins Own), Donnacha Hennessey (Dicksboro); Billy O'Neill (Graigue Ballycallan), Michael Stynes (Dicksboro), Bobbie Brennan (Young Irelands); Alex Cass (Thomastown), Matthew Bolger (St Martins); Greg Kelly (O'Loughlin Gaels), Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro), Shane Culleton (St Patricks); Eanna O'Casaide (Danesfort), Brian Moore (Dicksboro), Ryan Corcoran (Graigue Ballycallan).

Subs- Bill Whelan (James Stephens) for Purcell 10 mins, Ruairi Harrison (James Stephens) for Bolger 35 mins, James Bergin (James Stephens) for Cass 48 mins, Niall Drennan for Culleton 49 mins, Luke Staunton (De La Salle) for O'Casaide 52 mins.

Referee- Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)