St Kieran’s (Kilkenny) 2-16
Our Lady’s Templemore (Tipperary) 0-13
Croke Cup (All-Ireland Colleges SH A semi-final)
JOE CUDDIHY SCORED a crucial second-half goal to help holders St Kieran’s finally see off the dogged challenge of Our Lady’s Templemore in this afternoon’s Croke Cup semi-final in Clonmel.
St Kieran’s, aiming to win the competition for a third successive year, eventually won their semi-final by nine points but on three occasions in the second half, Templemore were within two points of their opponents.
St Kieran’s hitman Adrian Mullen had a penalty brilliantly saved by Jack Kennedy midway through the second half and when David O’Shea pointed at the other end for Templemore, they were sensing an upset.
Templemore were still hanging in with eight minutes left, trailing by four points, when Cuddihy struck for the killer goal.
Templemore protested that one of their players was fouled before Kieran’s broke and after DJ Carey’s son Seán provided a brilliant offload for Cuddihy, the finish was clinical.
St Kieran’s were now seven points clear, 2-13 to 0-12, and the gap was 10 at one stage before the 20-time Croke Cup champions won pulling up.
St Kieran’s led by 1-9 to 0-8 at half-time, a four-point gap when they had led by seven in the 20th minute. Mullen’s free put St Kieran’s 1-8 to 0-4 clear but Templemore reeled off four of the last five scores of the opening half to remain in touch.
But Templemore had just one point from play in the opening half, Lyndon Fairbrother on target early on, and they were reliant on Brian McGrath from long-range placed balls, with Jamie Bergin hitting them closer in.
Kieran’s, who will play Ardscoil Rís in the final, had the ideal start, leading by 1-1 to 0-0 within two minutes.
But Templemore hung in grimly to give themselves a chance ahead of the second half. Cuddihy popped over the opening point of the game before towering centre forward Colum Prendiville took a pass from Edward Moylan, who made an incisive run, for the goal.
Templemore, playing without suspended captain Anthony Ryan, had their opening score from a Bergin free before Fairbrother cut the gap back to a manageable 0-2 to 1-1.
Three unanswered points from Prendiville, Edward Moylan and Michael Cody had Kieran’s five points clear and they would continue to have the upper hand before Templemore rallied approaching half-time.
Scorers for St Kieran’s: Adrian Mullen 0-7 (6f), Colum Prendiville 1-3, Joe Cuddihy 1-1, Michael Cody, Edmond Delaney, Joe Connolly, Seán Carey & Edward Moylan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Our Lady’s Templemore: Brian McGrath 0-5 (3f, 1 65), Jamie Bergin 0-3f, Jerry Kelly 0-2, David O’Shea, Stephen Nolan & Lyndon Fairbrother 0-1 each.
ST KIERAN’S
1. Darragh Phelan (Emeralds)
2. Conor Byrne (James Stephens)
3. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)
4. Evan Carroll (Dicksboro)
5. Michael Cody (Dunnamaggin)
6. Darren Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
7. Matt Kenny (Clara)
8. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
9. Edmond Delaney (Conahy Shamrocks)
10. Joe Connolly (Clara)
11. Colum Prendiville (Graigue-Ballycallan)
12. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Seán Carey (Young Irelands)
14. Joe Cuddihy (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Edward Moylan (Dicksboro)
Subs:
20. Victor Costello (Dunnamaggin) for Delaney (60)
17. Niall Delaney (James Stephens) for Byrne (60)
OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE:
1. Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens)
4. Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney)
3. Diarmaid Ryan (Clonakenny)
2. Conor O’Meara (Drom & Inch)
9. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
7. Kevin Hassett (Drom & Inch)
5. Tom Murphy (JK Brackens)
6. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
18. Neil Quinlan (JK Brackens)
12. Stephen Nolan (Dom & Inch)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens)
17. Ray McCormack (Borrisoleigh)
10. Jamie Bergin (Drom & Inch)
14. Jerry Kelly (Borrisoleigh)
8. David O’Shea (JK Brackens)
Subs:
19. Aidan O’Meara (Drom & Inch) for O’Shea (54)
13. Paul Bergin (Drom & Inch) for Jamie Bergin (54)
Referee: John Keane (Galway)
