Nenagh CBS agony after last gasp St Kieran's goal takes away Croke Cup final opportunity

Masita All-Ireland PPS Croke Cup semi-final

Nenagh CBS 2-15

St Kieran's College 2-18

By John O'Shea

The quest by St. Joseph’s CBS Nenagh for Masita All Ireland Senior A Hurling Post Primary Schools glory came unstuck at Kelly O’Daly Park Rathdowney on Saturday when they were hit with 1-5, without reply, by St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny in the Semi-Final.

The famed Kilkenny City nursery performed another Houdini like late recovery for the second game in succession, as they had also hit the final 2-7 without reply in their quarter final victory over St. Raphael’s Loughrea, a few weeks previous.

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It took a last gasp goal from substitute Dan Carroll in the sixty fifth minute to finally separate the sides at the end of a thrilling game, as extra timed loomed at the Laois venue.

This late victory for the twenty five times champions secures a place in the St. Patrick’s Day final at Croke Park where they will play Presentation College Athenry, who overcame St. Flannan’s Ennis in the other semi-final.

St. Kieran’s won the toss and elected to attack the dressing room end for the opening half, playing into a diagonal wind. Nenagh CBS were quickly out of the traps and had 0-3 on the scoreboard by the fourth minute from Patrick Ryan, Eoghan Doughan and Eanna Tucker, all from open play.

St. Kieran’s opened their account in the fifth minute with a point from a placed ball from Conor McEvoy.

A huge pointed free from well inside his own half from goalkeeper Paddy McCormack restored the three point advantage, as Kieran’s came more into the game, but were unable to break down the hard tackling Nenagh defence.

Conor McEvoy added a second from a free before Shane Cleary came to the rescue, with a good block on a goal-bound shot, at the expense of a 65, from which McEvoy cut the deficit to the minimum.

Nenagh went on a run, hitting the next four minors from Patrick Ryan, Cillian Healy, and two Eoghan Doughan frees before Conor McEvoy hit his and Kieran’s fourth, all from placed balls. Joe O’Dwyer added another for the Dr. Harty champions, before Jake Mullen finished a move, with his final shot beating Paddy McCormack for the opening major in the twenty fifth minute.

Over the final minutes of the half Nenagh had a few half chances that came to nothing, the best being from the hard working Joe O’Dwyer, whose shot was well saved on the line by goalkeeper Cian Dermody. Half time score, 0-9 to 1-4 in favour of the Munster champions.

After the restart, Nenagh were off the mark quickly when Eoghan Doughan fired over after just twenty five seconds, to put three between the sides. The more physical St. Kieran’s, now aided by the wind, were beginning to exert pressure on the Nenagh defence, with their half back line and midfield coming more into the game.

They hit three points in a three minute spell, two from Gearoid O’Shea either side of a converted free from Conor McEvoy, to draw level for the first time, five minutes into the second half.

Nenagh replied on the double, first from an Eoghan Doughan converted free and then a goal from Eanna Tucker after been put through by Joe O’Dwyer. St. Kieran’s had the deficit back to two following minors from Ned Spellman and Jake Mullen. Eanna Tucker slotted over a minor before Joe O’Dwyer found the Kieran’s net, one handed, to finish a good interaction move, that included 

Johnny Grace and Dara O’Dwyer. This major gave Nenagh a six point advantage, 2-12 to 1-9, with seventeen minutes of normal time remaining. 

For the final quarter plus added time, the St. Kieran’s physicality became a huge factor as the Nenagh lads began to tire. The Leinster champions went on to outscore their rivals by 1-9 to 0-3, including the final 1-5 without reply.

Their defence and midfield dominated, with centre back and captain David Barcoe landing two huge minors from a distance, the second to level the tie on sixty three minutes.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Eoghan Doughan split the posts from open play to go 2-15 to 1-13 in front, but this was to be the last score for the North Tipperary school as Kieran’s went for the jugular.

They gradually eat into this five point advantage with Conor McEvoy hitting two minors, one from a placed ball. Substitute Luke Lawlor added another before Ben Nevin slotted over when he was first to react to an indirect St. Kieran’s free. 

In a tense finish, Kilkenny Senior panellist and team captain David Barcoe tied the game before Dan Carroll got a vital touch at the end of a long ball into the hearth of the Nenagh defence to beat Paddy McCormack from close-in, to go through to the final.

Scorers: St. Kieran’s: Conor McEvoy (0-9, 0-7f, 1x65), Jake Mullen (1-1), Dan Carroll (1-0), David Barcoe (0-2), Gearoid O’Shea (0-2), Ben Nevin (0-1), Luke Lawlor (0-1), Diarmuid Behan (0-1), Ned Spellman (0-1).

Nenagh CBS: Eoghan Doughan (0-8, 0-5f), Eanna Tucker (1-2), Joe O’Dwyer (1-1), Patrick Ryan (0-2), Paddy McCormack (0-1), Cillian Healy (0-1).

St. Kierans College: Cian Dermody (James Stephens), Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Louis Raggett (Dicksboro), Ben Nevin (Thomastown), Bill McDermott (James Stephens), David Barcoe (Captain, Clara), Ben McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan), Ned Spellman (Rower Inistioge), Jake Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Conor McEvoy (James Stephans), Diarmuid Behan (James Stephens), Conor Holohan (O’Loughlan Gaels), Brian Hickey (Dunnamaggin), Fionn Mahony (Danesfort), Gearoid O’Shea (St. Molleran’s Waterford).

Subs used: Eoin Walpole (Bennetsbridge) for Ben McEvoy (40), Dan Carroll (Dicksboro) for Brian Hickey (49), Rob McEvoy (Lisdowney) for Conor Holohan (49), Luke Lawlor (Clara) for Bill McDermott (54).

Nenagh CBS: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall), Diarmuid Fogarty (Kiladangan), Shane Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Dara O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Johnny Grace (Burgess), Dara O’Dwyer (Kiladangan), Emmett Jones (Nenagh Éire Óg), Cillian Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Austin Duff (Toomevara), Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Eoghan Doughan (Captain, Moneygall), Paul Cahalan (Burgess), Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Joe O’Dwyer (Burgess).

Subs used: Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Paul Cahalan (HT), KJ Dunne (Toomevara) for Patrick Hackett (44), Tom Boland (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cillian Healy (49), Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for Austin Duff (60+3)

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)

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