Subs: Richard Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks) (0-1) for Jack Nolan 51 mins

Back Row: (left to right) Sean O’Dwyer, Michael Brennan, John Power, Eoin Gough, Cillian Phelan, Ger Teehan.

3^rd Row: (left to right) Patrick O’Carroll, Aidan Cleere, George Allen, Michael Donnolly, Niall Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Robert Lennon, Mr. Ken Archbold (trainer).

2^nd Row: (left to right) Mr. Philip Walsh (trainer), Tom Brennan, Hugh O’Neill, Peter English, Thomas O’Hanrahan, Richie Reid, Robert O’Hanrahan, Peter Kenneally, Cillian Treacy, Diarmuid Cody, Mr. Tom Hogan (trainer).

Front Row: (left to right) Cormac Wafer, Enda Morrissey, Jack McGrath, Luke Hickey, William Phelan (captain), Sam Johnston, Patrick Butler, Jack Nolan, Cathal O’Neill, Conor O’Shea

Absent from photo: Ciaran Prendergast and David Bourke

Congratulations to everyone involved with the senior hurling team after a wonderful All Ireland final win on Saturday when St Kieran’s retained the All Ireland title they won last year with a great late burst against Ard Scoil Ris.

Thurles was the venue, however unlike last year’s fine conditions, the wind blew strongly into the town goal. Kieran’s played against the wind in the first half and got the better of the exchanges. Thomas O’ Hanrahan opened the scoring and looked the most likely to score all day for Kieran’s. Ard Scoil frees kept them in touch as John Power and Tucker picked points for the College. The Kieran’s backs were playing well against the strong wind and Kieran’s had the upper hand, especially William Phelan at full back and Pat O’Carroll at six. Sam Johnston was assured under high ball in goal. Kieran’s first goal put the College in the driving seat. A cross field ball from Diarmuid Cody was caught by Michael Brennan whose quick thinking hand pass put O’Hanrahan through and he finished with aplomb. The College went in at the break two points to the good.

Ard Scoil started the second half brightly and was quick off the mark with points and a crucial goal. Kieran’s responded with four points. John Power was shinning at wing forward and his low shot could have been a goal but it whizzed over the bar. Likewise, Willie Phelan, now at centre back landed a memorable free from his own half. From then on, Ard Scoil came back into the game. With ten minutes remaining and with Kieran’s finding scores difficult to come about, Ard Scoil levelled the game at 1-9 apiece. They stretched into the lead going into three minutes of injury time. Two points ahead, Ard Scoil were within touching distance of their first title.

However, Kieran’s had not read the script and with two hundred years of tradition behind them, they produced an amazing three minutes. Cillian Buckley won a puck out, hand passed to the strong running Conor O’Shea who shipped a hard challenge before delivering a ball across the square. Thomas O’ Hanrahan reacted first and lashed the ball to the empty net. Kieran’s a point up, one minute of injury time left. The quick puck out was grabbed by Richie Reid and delivered the sliothar between the posts for Kieran’s to lead by two. There was time for one more play. Ard Scoil applied the pressure and was awarded a twenty one yard free just to the right of the goal. The free was mis hit and squirted across the goal to the safety of the end line. A loud shrill of the whistle and Kieran’s were All Ireland champions for a record eighteenth time.

Fifteen clubs represented on the Kieran’s panel. Dunamaggin’s William Phelan collected the trophy and raised it to the heavens with a huge roar from the Kieran’s supporters. Indeed, a similar roar was heard from a Dublin hotel where the Kilkenny Senior hurling panel were watching intently.

A drenched Mr. Tom Hogan paid tribute to the team afterwards in the dressing room who had never been beaten in all their years together from Juvenile to senior hurling. He singled out Cillian Buckley who had gone through the pain barrier to play for Kieran’s one last time.

• Read Irish Independent match report here
• Read The Examiner Match report here