All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling ‘A’ Quarter-Final – Kilkenny C.B.S. 2-12 Coláiste na Déise 1-12

Kilkenny CBS 2-12 Coláistí na nDéise 1-12 – All Ireland Colleges Quarter Final

Report by Tomás McCarthy from http://tomasmccarthy.blogspot.com/2012/03/kilkenny-cbs-2-12-colaisti-na-ndeise-1.html

Coláistí na nDéise saw their remarkable season come to a halt at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon as Leinster runners-up Kilkenny CBS pulled through after extra time in this All Ireland quarter final clash.

The Harty Cup winners took time to find their feet and the visitors capitalised early on. Impressive centre back Owen McGrath converted two 65s before Mason Clifford billowed the net on seven minutes after Eoin Kearns saved well from Philly Campion. Indeed were it not for some alert goalkeeping from Kearns, Kilkenny could have added to their goal tally such was their dominance. It took Coláistí na nDéise fifteen minutes to register their first point through Ryan Donnelly. Further points courtesy of a Cathal Curran free and a fine individual effort from Colin Dunford left them only three adrift (1-3 to 0-3) at half time.

Coláistí na nDéise lifted their game on the resumption and three rapid Cathal Curran frees brought the sides level. The home side then took the lead for the first time when Kevin Daly supplied Patrick Curran to slip the ball past Darragh Holohan to make it 1-6 to 1-3. The introduction of Kevin Sheehan brought much needed physicality in defence but they couldn’t completely kill off the Kilkenny challenge. Some missed chances proved costly when Owen McGrath’s long range free somehow made its way to the net on 53 minutes to level it up again. Coláistí na nDéise regained the lead but Mason Clifford forced extra time with a point two minutes into injury time.

In the first period of extra time, Kilkenny CBS were boosted by the strength of their bench and posted four points without reply. Owen McGrath continued to lead the charge with two points as they led 2-11 to 1-10 at half time. Coláistí na nDéise continued to battle right to the end but their late efforts failed to yield the goal they craved.

Scorers:- Kilkenny CBS: O McGrath 1-5 (1-2f, 2 65), M Clifford 1-2, J Langton, JP Treacy, K Kenny, R Buckley, D Bolger 0-1 each.

Coláistí na nDéise: Cathal Curran 0-7 (6f), P Curran 1-0, R Donnelly 0-2, K Power, M Harney, C Dunford 0-1 each.

Kilkenny CBS: D Holohan, C McGrath, E Cody, S Cassin, N Mullins, O McGrath, R Fitzpatrick, D Sheehan, J Langton, M Clifford, C Doyle, E Fennelly, P Campion, S Cuddihy, K Kenny.

Subs: P Delahunty for Campion, D Bolger for Clifford, M Clifford for Fennelly, L Scanlon for Sheehan, JP Treacy for Cuddihy, R Buckley for Delahunty, P Campion for Clifford, S Tynan for Bolger.

Coláistí na nDéise: E Kearns, K Looby, T Tobin, S O’Donovan, E Collins, T Devine, T Burke, C Dunford, Cormac Curran, Cathal Curran, M Harney, R Donnelly, M Kiely, K Power, P Curran.

Subs: K Sheehan for Looby, K Daly for Kiely, M Kiely for P Curran, P Curran for Donnelly, E Crotty for Collins.

Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)