It was a day to forget in the Leinster post-primary schools senior semi-finals for two of Kilkenny’s proudest hurling sides as St. Kieran’s College and CBS Kilkenny suffered surprise defeats on Saturday afternoon.
It was an implosion that was completely out of character for the most successful team in the history of the competition as Kieran’s threw away a five-point lead with ten minutes remaining.
Unsurprisingly given the occasion, it was a tight and cagey affair in the first half with Kieran’s just about keeping themselves in front throughout. They led by 0-05 to 0-04 after nineteen minutes before going into the half-time break with a two-point lead, St. Kieran’s College 0-07 to 0-05 Dublin South.
The Dublin outfit could not keep tabs with the men in black and white as the second half progressed as Kieran’s moved through the gears and got what looked like a game-winning goal midway through the second half to move 1-12 to 0-10 ahead and in the process seemingly put one-foot in the decider.
They were stunned in the final ten minutes, however, as two quickfire goals by Dublin South along with a collection of points saw them claim a shock victory in Ratheniska on a scoreline of 1-13 to 2-13.
It was a similar tale for St. Kieran’s College’s bitter rivals CBS Kilkenny as Good Counsel proved far too strong for them on a cold afternoon in Thomastown.
Despite racing into a 1-02 to 0-00 lead thanks in part to a brilliant finish from Cathal Beirne for the only goal of the game, the Kilkenny school could not get a foothold in the game after the opening exchanges.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it would get for the team with home advantage as Good Counsel swiftly and efficiently took control of the clash.
The Wexford side took a 0-10 to 1-05 lead into the interval and CBS Kilkenny could not stem the momentum that Good Counsel had built up at the end of the first half as they cruised through after the interval with CBS never proving to be a cause for concern.
Ultimately, Good Counsel deservedly advanced to the provincial decider with a 0-22 to 1-11 victory. They will now face Dublin South in the Leinster final.
