Croke Cup semi-final heartbreak for Nenagh CBS

GAA: Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling Semi-Final

St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny 2-18

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh 2-15

Report: Shane Brophy

at Kelly O'Daly Park, Rathdowney

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS - St Kieran’s College: Conor McEvoy 0-9 (7 frees, 1 ’65); Jake Mullen 1-1; Dan Carroll 1-0; David Barcoe, Gearoid O’Shea 0-2 each; Ben Nevin, Luke Lawlor, Diarmuid Behan, Ned Spellman 0-1 each.

Nenagh CBS: Eoghan Doughan 0-8 (5 frees); Eanna Tucker 1-2; Joe O’Dwyer 1-1; Patrick Ryan 0-2; Patrick McCormack (free), Cillian Healy 0-1 each.

A last gasp Dan Carroll goal completed another remarkable comeback for St Kieran’s College Kilkenny to break the hearts of Nenagh CBS in a pulsating All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Hurling semi-final in Rathdowney on Saturday.

The Munster champions were full value for their 2-15 to 1-13 on 53 minutes but they wouldn’t score again, and as they did in the quarter final when they scored 2-7 without reply to beat St Raphael’s of Loughrea, Kieran’s hit 1-5 in the closing period to stay on course for a record 26th All-Ireland title.

This is a defeat that will hurt Harty Cup winners Nenagh who looked set to reach their second ever Croke Cup final. They led 0-9 to 1-4 at the end of a scrappy first half, captain Eoghan Doughan landing two points from play as well as two frees and one from goalkeeper Paddy McCormack.

Patrick Ryan also landed two points, the second unlucky not to have been a goal as his shot hit the crossbar and over. The lively Joe O’Dwyer also brought a save out of Cian Dermody while at the other end, Nenagh dominated, St Kieran’s restricted to four Conor McEvoy placed balls before Jake Mullen’s 25th minute goal was the Kilkenny sides only score from play in the half.

Nenagh continued to hold sway early in the second half and a well work goal, finished goal by Eanna Tucker pushed them into a 1-11 to 1-7 lead on 38 minutes. Kieran’s responded with points from Ned Spellman and Mullen but Nenagh were always able to keep the gap which rose to six on 43 minutes when man of the match Joe O’Dwyer goaled superbly one-handed under pressure.

St Kieran’s kept coming with captain David Barcoe and Diarmuid Behan pointing but Nenagh were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over through two Doughan frees and when he landed his third from play on 53 minutes to go five clear again, they looked in a strong position.

However, Nenagh tired in the closing stages which St Kieran’s greater size beginning to tell, particularly in defence leading to more possession and points for sub Luke Lawlor, Ben Nevin, and two frees from Conor McEvoy before Barcoe landed a monster point from play to level in the fourth minute of added time.

Extra time looked likely but there was time for one more play with St Kieran’s winning the puckout and a long ball into the square broke to Dan Carroll who flicked past McCormack and complete another remarkable recovery for the Kilkenny hurling nursery.

St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny: Cian Dermody (James Stephens); Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Louis Raggett (Dicksboro), Ben Nevin (Thomastown); Billy McDermott (James Stephens), David Barcoe (Clara, capt), Ben McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan); Ned Spellman (Rower Inistioge), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale); Conor McEvoy (James Stephens), Diarmuid Behan (James Stephens), Conor Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels); Brian Hickey (Dunnamaggin), Fionn Mahony (Danesfort), Gearoid O’Shea (St Molleran’s, Waterford).

Subs: Eoin Walpole (Bennettsbridge) for B McEvoy (40); Dan Carroll (Dicksboro) for Holohan (49); Rob McEvoy (Lisdowney) for Hickey (49); Luke Lawlor (Clara) for McDermott (54).

St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall); Diarmuid Fogarty (Kiladangan), Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Emmett Jones (Nenagh Eire Og), Dara O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), Johnny Grace (Burgess); Cillian Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Austin Duff (Toomevara); Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall, capt), Paul Cahalan (Burgess); Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og).

Subs: Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cahalan (HT); KJ Dunne (Toomevara) for Hackett (44); Tom Boland (Kiladangan) for C Healy (49); Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for Duff (60+3)

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly).