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Galway's Athenry stage incredible comeback to force extra-time, but St Kieran's regain Croke Cup

Presentation College Athenry came back from 12 points behind, but the Kilkenny kingpins eventually powered to their 22nd title.

St Kieran’s College 5-19

Presentation College Athenry 3-16

(after extra-time)

Kevin O’Brien reports from Semple Stadium

PRESENTATION COLLEGE ATHENRY pulled-off a brave fightback to force extra-time but they couldn’t prevent Kilkenny powerhouses St Kieran’s College from sealing their 22nd Croke Cup title in Thurles this evening.

St Kieran's Daith’ Barron lifts the trophy Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Athenry found themselves 12 points behind early in the second-half but a 64th-minute goal from Adam Brett, his second of the game, capped off a remarkable comeback and sent the game to extra-time.

Athenry over-turned a 10-point interval deficit to defeat Kilkenny CBS in the semi-final, but St Kieran’s eventually secured victory in extra-time thanks to goals from Jamie Young and Ciaran Brennan.

It was a fourth All-Ireland in five years for the Kilkenny school, who are now eight clear of second-placed St Flannan’s of Ennis in the All-Ireland senior hurling roll of honour.

This was their fifth Croke Cup final in-a-row, with last year’s final defeat to Our Lady’s Templemore their only defeat in five appearances in the decider. Indeed 10 players from last year’s final defeat lined out again today.

Athenry were aiming to become the first Galway school to win the All-Ireland senior A hurling title since St Raphael’s in 1995, and that remains the county’s sole victory. Their last visit to the final, in 1976, also ended in defeat.

George Murphy and Patrick Rabbitte Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Adrian Mullen, who played at full-forward on Kilkenny’s Leinster minor winning campaign of 2017, starred with seven points from midfield while O’Loughlin Gaels youngster Conor Kelly (0-7) and Bennettsbridge’s Ciaran Brennan (2-1) also impressed.

St Kieran’s led by 0-4 to 0-1 after the opening seven minutes, but Athenry moved a point in front by the 14th minute mainly due to the accuracy of Mark Kennedy’s free-taking.

Athenry were struggling to create scoring chances from open play, while at the far end St Kieran’s were cutting them open. They dispatched three goals between the 21st and 26th minute through Daithi Barron, Ciaran Brennan and David O’Carroll, to lead by 3-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

Adam Brett celebrates scoring in injury time Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

St Kieran’s pressed ahead into a 12-point lead by the 35th minute, but the Galway side bagged 3-5 over the next 25 minutes to send the game to extra-time. The three goals arrived after the 55th minute, with Brett popping up twice for close-range finishes while Kennedy dispatched the other.

St Kieran’s responded in extra-time with a flurry of scores from Mullen and Kelly, while Young and Brennan hit the pivotal goals to seal the win.

Scores for St Kieran’s College: Ciaran Brennan 2-1, Daithi Barron 1-2, Adrian Mullen 0-7 (0-1f), Conor Kelly 0-7 (0-2f), David O’Carroll and Jamie Young 1-0 each, Ian Walsh and Eoin O’Shea 0-1 each.

Scores for Presentation College Athenry: Mark Kennedy 1-8 (0-6f), Adam Brett 2-2, TJ Brennan 0-2, Eoin Caulfield, Brion Connolly (0-1f), Ian McGlynn (0-1f), Cillian Lawless 0-1 each.

St Kieran’s College

1. Dean Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

2. Tommy Ronan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
3. Conor Murphy (Bennetsbridge)
4. Mark Nolan (Dicksboro)

5. Diarmuid Phelan (Danesfort)
6. Jesse Roberts (Graigue-Ballycallan)
7. Luke Murphy (James Stephens)

8. Killian Egan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
9. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

10. Eoghan Moylan (Dicksboro)
11. Eoin O’Shea (O’Loughlin Gaels)
12. Daithi Barron (Thomastown)

13. Conor Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels)
14. Ciaran Brennan (Bennettsbridge)
15. David O’Carroll (Lisdowney)

Subs

19. George Murphy (Rower-Inistioge) for O’Carroll (36)
18. Ian Walsh (Dunamaggin) for Moylan (46)
20. Jamie Young (O’Loughlin Gaels) for O’Shea (49)
17. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks) for Barron (51)
12. Barron for Egan (half-time in extra-time)
22. David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge) for Murphy (half-time in extra-time)

Presentation College Athenry

1. Patrick Rabbitte (Athenry)

9. Jason Reilly (Turloughmore)
2. Adam Clarke (Craughwell)
4. Eoin Lawless (Athenry)

5. Karl Conneely (Turloughmore)
3. Conor Lee (Clarinbridge)
7. TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge)

12. Brian Connolly (Turloughmore)
8. Shane Quirke (Athenry)

10. Eoin O’Donnell (Ardrahan)
6. Conor Walsh (Turloughmore)
14. Cillian Lawless (Athenry)

13. Mark Kennedy (Clarinbridge)
11. Adam Brett (Killimordaly)
15. Eoin Caulfield (Athenry)

Subs

17. Oisin Salmon (Clarinbridge) for O’Donnell (43)
24. Ian McGlynn (Reilly (47)
21. Bobby Concannon (Killimordaly) for Connolly (59)
20. Donal Parr (Athenry) for Caulfield (61)
19. Brandon Lee (Athenry) for Lawless (73)
18. Dara Coleman (Abbeyknockmmoy) for Walsh (77)

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

******

Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore 0-17

St Patrick’s, Maghera 0-13

Meanwhile in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior B hurling final, Colaise Choilm lifted the title after a four-point victory in Inniskeen.

Managed by former Offaly hurler Colm Cassidy, the Tullamore school secured the victory after extra-time.

Brian Duignan, son of Faithful legend Michael Duignan, scored a late equaliser and fired over 0-12 altogether to help secure the victory for Colaiste Choilm.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Feb 18th 2018, 11:57 AM

    There was bound to be a blip or two somewhere in the season. Some of the players from yesterday need to have a good look at themselves. Not the end of the world though. We are still in a good place considering the mid season change of coach.

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Feb 18th 2018, 7:37 PM

    @Jim Demps: 9 wins and 6 defeats isn’t exactly glittering form. Running into a pivotal part of the league with some tough fixtures coming, good thing is the results of other teams in pool A means even the worst implosion will still see Munster get a playoff birth. But which is better Edinburgh/Ulster at Home and Leinster/Scarlett’s away semi or finish 3rd get away to Leinster/Scarlett’s and away to Glasgow semi.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Feb 18th 2018, 8:24 PM

    @Scott Crossfield: not glittering but it’ll do. Doesn’t matter who we play in the knockouts, we are capable of beating all of them.

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Feb 18th 2018, 9:25 PM

    @Jim Demps: when full sides in action Munster need second place as they will not beat Scarlets and possibly. It Leinster away yet alone away semi. But ah sure we can beat anyone aside the next few weeks will show where they’re at and ways needed

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    Gary
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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:24 PM

    The heading should be “best team in conference A”. They are top of conference A. Leinster are top of conference B and Llanelli are the reigning champions.

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:34 PM

    @Gary: it was Johann who said it not the author, take off your blue tinted glasses he’s not wrong..

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Gary: Well considering that Glasgow have amassed more points than any otherPro14 team in either conference this season (65 points), having won 13 out of 15 games, they are statistically the best team of the Pro14 on form.

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    Gary
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    Mute Gary
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:44 PM

    @Hardly Normal: So saying Llanelli are reigning champions and saying Leinster are top of conference B means I’ve blue tinted glasses? OKayyyyy. So stating facts is wrong then. Hmm.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:45 PM

    @Gary: he’s not wrong. Glasgow have the most points out of both conferences.

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    Mute Marcodub
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:51 PM

    @Gary: spot on Gary

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Feb 18th 2018, 1:09 PM

    @Gary: Llanelli play in the Welsh Premiership and are not even the reigning champions, Merthyr RFC are. Think you mean the Scarlets?

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Feb 18th 2018, 1:23 PM

    @Martin Quinn: Haha , I should change that , I’m in league country now, (new south wales). About the pools , I’d have thought they were fairly even to be honest, can’t see much between the two.

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    Mute Bob Joe
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    Feb 18th 2018, 1:44 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: well seeing that Glasgow are out of Europe they are not the best team but they do have the most points

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Feb 18th 2018, 2:04 PM

    @Bob Joe: This article refers to the best team in the Pro14, not Europe. Europe and Pro14 are different worlds intensity-wise. Stay on topic, fella.

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:44 PM

    Here we go again.” Keatley is useless” brigade are back. The same people who were praising him a few weeks ago. My oh my how fickle the keyboard warriors are

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    Mute Daniel Casey
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    Feb 18th 2018, 4:32 PM

    @Chris Tobin: I’ve been saying from the start of the season that he’s improved a lot but he still makes poor decisions in the opposition 22 and is good for an error or two in a game! Was terrible yesterday but in fairness going on form this season that’s out of the ordinary for him. Shouldn’t be in the 6 Nations squad. Byrne at Leinster offers more and Carbury could be a world beater if he was getting game time at 10!

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 19th 2018, 8:51 AM

    @Chris Tobin: There’s been so many seasons of it… in all that time nothing much has changed. He’s a great player on his day, in terms of winning the Pro 14, maybe, winning Europe, maybe not, (Munsters’ heart has always been firmly set on Europe). It’s a professional game and even when it wasn’t the pre-internet chatter has always been super critical, those who are involved know it. Add todays ‘chatroom factor’ and honestly it could be a whole lot worse.

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    Mute Peter Brophy
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:22 PM

    They all seemed asleep. I remember Rhys Marshall standing by a ruck with his hands on his hips when he should have been blocking and that was quickly followed by a try

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    Mute Marcodub
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:50 PM

    @Peter Brophy: should hammer Glasgow as most of their team in Scotland squad

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    Mute Tommy Greene
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    Feb 18th 2018, 1:13 PM

    Pretty basic errors by the coaching staff who allowed some underperforming players remain on the pitch for too long . Allied to An inability to change tactics contributed to a very poor night -

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    Mute Garrett Mccolgan
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    Feb 18th 2018, 2:24 PM

    Why are Munster turning their attention to Leinster when they are playing Glasgow next?

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    Mute Brian Valès
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    Feb 18th 2018, 3:56 PM

    Munster have no future with Keatley at 10. His performance in the first half was the worst I’ve seen at professional level in a very very long time. He simply killed the team.

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    Mute James Buckley
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    Feb 19th 2018, 11:14 PM

    @Brian Valès: Brian, I don’t where your loyalties lie but I doubt if you are a Munster supporter. Anyone watching Ian Keatley this season cannot but be impressed by how well he has played, but you know it only took one game for the knives to come out. I do not see anyone looking for Carbery’s head in the his 10 minute malfunction against Italy or the defence weaknesses by his colleagues. God help us against Wales if we have George North running against some our new apprentices.

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    Mute David OfBrien
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:29 PM

    Keatley and Williams were terrible yesterday. Some of keatleys kicks were absolute rubbish.

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:41 PM

    @David OfBrien: in fairness the whole team were dire on the night

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    Mute Marcodub
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    Feb 18th 2018, 12:52 PM

    @David OfBrien: and yet some folk think Keats should be backup to Sexton

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 18th 2018, 2:09 PM

    @Marcodub: #keatleyhaters

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    Mute Wedger
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    Feb 19th 2018, 10:31 AM

    Yet another example of Munster not showing up for the first half of a game. We done it several times already this season, most notably Home and Away to Leinster. Can see no excuse for not being mentally ready for a game of rugby and to me it usually happens when a certain 4/5 players are selected together. Johann has said it now at least 3 times that these performances are not acceptable but yet they continue to happen. How many times does Duncan Williams need to have a kick blocked before he or a coach address the issue???? He is not good enough to back up Murray, never will be, play Hart or give young Poland a real chance.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 19th 2018, 8:53 AM

    No leaders on the field, would have had Holland as captain.

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    Mute Padraic Courtney
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    Feb 19th 2018, 11:07 AM

    @thesaltyurchin: Holland needed a break, he’s played in almost every game in Europe and the Pro 14 so far this season.

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    Mute James Buckley
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    Feb 19th 2018, 10:58 PM

    The Cardiff Blues game was a total malfunction by the whole team on Saturday evening.
    Let no blame hang on any one individual, just suck it for what it was and get over it.If ever we needed a response , let us see it Friday night.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Feb 18th 2018, 10:59 PM

    The whole team were off. Can’t blame a few players only. We’ve seen some great plays from Keatley and Williams this season. Williams needs more consistency but he also needs players ready to provide support and watching the game.

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