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All-Ireland Senior A Post-Primary Schools Hurling Championship Final
Ardscoil Rís (Limerick) 1-17 St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 0-15
CLARE pair Niall O’Farrell and David Kennedy combined for 1-11 as Ardscoil Rís shattered their Croke Cup Final hoodoo in style in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.
Having been defeated in three previous All-Ireland deciders to St Kieran’s College, the Limerick college, co-managed by Paul Flanagan, Cormac O’Donovan and Niall Moran, exacted full revenge with a powerful final 40 minutes in which they outscored the roll of honour leaders by 1-13 to 0-9 to run out deserving breakthrough winners.
Seven of Ardscoil Rís’ 14 strong Banner contingent played their part on the greatest stage of all, with Broadford’s Niall O’Farrell in particular excelling after suffering his own set-back when a 20th minute penalty was saved.
Trailing by two at the time, O’Farrell’s answer was to snatch the final by the scruff of the neck with five of a seven point unanswered rally that boosted Ardscoil to an 0-11 to 0-6 interval cushion.
Having been beaten by St Joseph’s Tulla in the Harty Cup Final, that reverse steeled Ardscoil to remain on track throughout a tense second period that saw Joe Fitzpatrick, Ben Whitty and Harry Shine keep St Kieran’s in touch.
It had to take a 56th minute goal for Sixmilebridge’s David Kennedy to finally clinch matters while down the other end, goalkeeper Seimi Gully (Clonlara) produced three superb saves to cling on to a famous victory.
Ardscoil Rís: Seimi Gully (Clonlara); Evan O’Leary (Ahane), John Fitzgerald (Na Piarsaigh), Colm Flynn (Sixmilebridge); Michael Gavin (Ballybrown), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca/Banogue), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh); JJ Carey (Na Piarsaigh), Rian O’Byrne (Crecora Manister); Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), Jack Golden (Monaleen), Oisin O’Farrell (Askeaton); Brian O’Keeffe (Murroe-Boher), Niall O’Farrell (Broadford), David Kennedy (Sixmilebridge)
Subs: Rian McNamara (Cratloe) for Fitzgerald (38, inj), Dylan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh) for Flynn (49), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara) for O’Byrne (59), Sean McMahon (Smith O’Brien’s) for O’Keeffe (60, inj)
Scorers: Niall O’Farrell (0-8, 3f, 1‘65); David Kennedy (1-3); Shane O’Brien (0-3); Jack Golden, Rian O’Byrne, Dylan Lynch (0-1 each)
