Match Report:

St. Kieran’s College may be among the traditional big names in colleges hurling, yet still they continue to break new ground and in the searing heat of Nenagh they made a bit of history when they beat battling St. Flannan’s College of Ennis Co. Clare to win this gruelling senior final. This was St. Kieran’s ninth win in all, but further to that it was the first time they put All Ireland wins back to back.

In some way Kieran’s made life difficult for themselves by missing chances in the second half. However after two goals for Kieran’s scored by D.J. Carey in the first five minutes of the second half the Noresiders never looked back. Still, because of their squandermania, registered 11 wides in this half. This left them vulnerable but luck was on their side, when Flannan’s had a goal disallowed by referee Willie Horgan who ruled the St. Flannan’s player dropped his hurley before he parted with the ball.

In the first half Kieran’s mounted a smashing rearguard action, with the half back trio of John Carey, Pat O’ Neill and Robert Dillon excellent for 20 minutes. In the 10 minutes leading up to the break Flannan’s enjoyed their best spell of the match when they took control of midfield. Flannan’s lead 1-6 to 1-2 at the interval.

During this half, St. Flannan’s got two early points followed by two near misses. After Kieran’s had absorbed a lot of pressure, Kieran’s broke up the field and D.J. pointed a free. Within two minutes he gathered a nice delivery from Andy Comerford side-stepped a defender and slammed the ball low into the net (1-1 to 0-2).

The best strikers of the ball on view Pat Markham and Carey traded points after that, then Kieran’s missed a chance that proved costly when Michael Holland  burst through the Kieran’s defence from the puck-out and scored a goal (1-3 to 1-2) in the 19^th minute. Flannan’s then registered 3 more points before the break.

Five minutes into the second half Dick Dooley struck a sideline across the edge of the square where D.J. Carey rose unchallenged to bat the ball down into the net. Three minutes later Carey scored from 30 yards when the sliotar slipped past the unlucky Flannan’s keeper. Flannan’s pulled back two points. But even after a few squandered chances Canice Brennan scored a point, followed by a ’65 from Pat O’Neill. By the time Flannan’s had the goal disallowed it was all over.