TWENTY three times Croke Cup Champions, St Kieran’s advanceD to another showdown with a physical powerful performance, reports Derek Dormer. St Joseph’s Tulla won the toss electing to play into the wind, a tactic that paid dividends in their historic Harty Cup success. A bright start allied to some wayward shooting from the Kilkenny team saw Tulla leading five points to four by the 20th minute. However, five unanswered points in quick succession  gave St Kieran’s a four point lead at the break which on the balance of the opening 30 minutes seemed harsh on the St Joseph’s team.

There can be no doubting the class that  Kieran’s possess though with a clinical second-half showing scoring 3-7 with their use of the ball against the wind a joy to watch.

Dominant from every restart , winning primary possession with ease they consistently played diagonal low ball inti their forward line reaping the rewards on every occasion. A tour de force display from centre forward Harry Shine who accounted for 1-7 of his teams total was just too much for a gallant St Joseph’s side who battled bravely to the end.

The old adage of goals winning matches can certainly be applied to todays game as just as it seemed Tulla were becoming dominant they were hit with a sucker punch of that  all important first goal coming somewhat against the run of play .

Two goals in the 20th and 21st minute killed this game as a contest – the first of which converted by Donagh Murphy after a sublime piece of individual brilliance from Harry Shine.

Tulla never lay down though and in fact were camped inside Kieran’s 21 yard line for the last few minutes, but it is the College Kingpins St Kieran’s who now have a Croke Park date on St Patrick’s Day

Sean Withycombe 1-7 ( 1-7f), Darragh Keogh 0-1, Oisin O’Connor 0-1,  Colm Cleary 0-1, Tony Leyden 0-1 (f)

Harry Shine 1-7 (5f 2 65s), Donagh Murphy 1-3, Anthony Ireland Wall 1-0, Ben Whitty 0-2, Ted Dunne 0-1, Joe Fitzpatrick 0-1, James Carroll 0-1, Paddy Lennon 0-1