Subs: Eddie Teehan (Kilkenny) (1-0) (for Maher)

Match Report: Perhaps it was the bitter memory of defeat last year, but whatever it was, it lifted brave and persistent St. Kieran’s College for a big finish that earned them a dramatic win over equally courageous Midleton CBS in this fine All-Ireland Senior hurling final at sun splashed Walsh park, Waterford.

Midleton made a brave bid for the honours. After an impressive opening five minutes during which they got a good point from John Dillon and then a goal from Padraig O’ Brien after Conor Reagan stopped the ball from going wide, they seemed to lose their way. It seemed that the losers went overboard on team switches due to three of their players carrying injuries into the game.

Kieran’s put their bad start behind them when Adrian Ronan took a seventh minute pass from D.J Carey and sprinted through the defence before shooting to the net. Carey levelled before David Quirke had an excellent Midleton point from mid-field in the fourteenth minute, which turned out to be their last score of the half.

Right on the quarter Pat O’ Neill was fouled and Adrian picked off the levelling score (1-2 each). Although Kieran’s took a lot of the ball from mid-field, they found it hard to get scores and at half time had eight wides. Points from Tommy Shefflin, Ronan and Briain Ryan had the winners 1-5 to1-2 clear at the break.

Midleton had a good start to the second half and after ninety seconds were awarded a penalty which was slotted home by David Quirke (1-5 to 2-2).

It was point for point through the rest of the half. Kieran’s were ahead only once in the new half, when Ronan pointed a free in the thirty fifth minute. However with less than five minutes remaining a Padraig O’Brien score divided the sides (2-7 to 1-9).

It was then Ronan exploded forward, he blazed past the twenty one then the fourteen before being crowded out, but the ball broke loose and in a split second Briain Ryan hit the net. Kieran’s were ahead for the second time in the half.

This boost of confidence was added to when Padraig McCluskey won the puck out and booted it up to Ronan who sent in a beautiful ball that was slammed to the net by the inrushing Eddie Teehan, with that touch of genius the match was over.

Back Row: Barry Power, Robert Dillon, Robert Cody, Declan Forristal, Dominic Bradley, Stephen Lawlor, Billy Whelan, John Holohan, Jack Carey, Brendan McEvoy, Adrian Ronan.

Middle Row: Edward Teehan, Tadhg Donohue, Jimmy Conroy (Capt.), Pat O’Neill, Dick Dooley, Canice Brennan, Joe Dermody.

Front Row: Tommy Shefflin, Brian Ryan, Padraig McCluskey, Padraic Larkin, D.J. Carey,

Noel Maher.

Absent: Paul Brennan and Marcus Hatt