Subs: Ned Sweeney (Kilkenny) (for M. Walsh)

Match Report:

There are games that are very hard to win and then there are seismic clashes like the All Ireland Final at Nenagh on Sunday that take an incredible amount of effort to win.

The pride of Kilkenny, St. Kierans College, prevailed in this battle of champions ,defeating St.  Flannan’s of Ennis by 4 points. But it took an effort  of monumental proportions. The Noresiders didn’t  get a thing soft. They had to fight for every ball. To get in a strike was hard in a match closed down by both sides.

The losers took the lead twice in the first 10 minutes only to be pegged back to parity. In the 11th minute Eoin Kelly burst away and scored a smashing point. They may have led all the way home from there but it was a torturous journey . Some great work  from Jackie Tyrell led to a point by Sean O’ Neill to make the score 4 points to 2

Kieran’s were then thankful to goalkeeper Brennan as he somehow kept out a fierce shot from Ger O’ Grady. Two points from Flannans free taker Andrew Quinn levelled things up. On Kierans ‘s next attack Ken Coogan launched a proftiable ball foward. Liam Heffernan ran on to the breaking ball. He collided with colleague Sean O’ Neill in a race for possession and fell to the ground. But Heffernan  got up like a light and charged through the Flannan’s defence to score a tremendous goal. At half time Kieren’s led 1-4 to 0-4

 At about the same juncture in last years final , Kieran’s began to fade  and they were eventually beaten . This time they merely cranked up the pressure. Coogan, Tyrell,Murphy and Kelly jumped up from the ranks to give powerfull leadership. It was beyond normal time when Kieran’s were  awarded a free on midfeild. Tim Murphy got a terrific strike .The ball sailed between the posts.That gave  Kieran’s  the insurance point they needed.They hung on to win the match 1-10 to 0-9.

Ken Coogan had an exceptional opening period and was never less than good afterwards. Jackie Tyrell had an unsteady spell during the third quarter when Damien Kennedy caused problems. But the Village man hung on and he powered  through, to become one of the inspiring figures in the finish. Brian Hogan had an excellent opening half while others to star in this sector, Daire Connery and Tommy  Walsh were so good that they just lost one score from play between them. The main man  in attack Eoin Kelly kept his best display for the final. That Kelly could claim 3 scores from play in such a tight scoring match spoke volumes about his class. While in goal Derek Brennan put in a magnificent  display .

Back Row: Ned Sweeney, Ken Coogan, Shane Hennessy, Michael Walsh, Robert Aylward, Brendan Doyle, Peter O’Neill, John Lennon, Michael Connolly, Dick Fitzpatrick.

Middle Row: Stephen Dunne, Michael Rice, Derrick Brennan, Ger Prendergast, Brian Hogan, James Moran, Jackie Tyrell, Enda Cleere, Pat Reid, Seaghan O’Neill.

Front Row: Mr. Adrian Finan (Trainer), Eoin Kelly, Brian Carroll, Brian Dowling, Tommy Walsh, Tim Murphy, Liam Heffernan, Joe Delaney, Michael Drennan, Daire Connery, Mr. Pat Murphy (Trainer).

Absent From Photo: Gary Hayes.