Gaelic Games

Templemore take Croke Cup as St Kieran’s miss out on historic win

Brian McGrath scores 1-8 as Tipperary school claim second title

David O’Shea of Our Lady’s, Templemore gets above St Kieran’s Martin Keoghan during the Croke Cup Final at Semple Stadium. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho

Conor Kane at Semple Stadium
Sat Mar 25 2017 - 18:31

Our Lady’s College (Templemore) 3-13 St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 3-11

Hopes of an historic Croke Cup four-in-a-row for schools hurling behemoth St Kieran’s were blown apart at Semple Stadium by some fine goal-taking and unerring Brian McGrath accuracy as Our Lady’s of Templemore took the crown.

Behind by four points early in the second half after an unanswered 1-2 from St Kieran’s following the interval, the Templemore school roused themselves again and again to answer the Kilkenny lads’ every move and end up with their second All-Ireland senior title.

Ciarán Brennan was always a handful for Kieran's, scoring one goal just before the break and setting another up for Adrian Mullen just after, while Mullen added a second for himself in the 42nd minute after the luckless Eoin Colllins saved from Diarmuid Phelan.

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But Our Lady’s had stars aplenty of their own, with county minor star Brian McGrath notching 1-8, Ray McCormack and Lyndon Fairbrother also scoring goals and others contributing around the field.

Our Lady’s led by 1-7 to 1-6 at half-time and despite a scoring burst from St Kieran’s shortly afterwards and all of their best efforts, they couldn’t shake off the Templemore challengers. After McCormack’s brilliant goal tied the scores at 3-9 each, four points in a row secured victory for the Tipperary school .

OUR LADY'S, TEMPLEMORE: E Collins; N Quinlan, P Campion, E Ryan; E McBride, P Cadell (capt), A O'Meara (0-1); D Ryan (0-1), S Nolan; R McCormack (1-0), B McGrath (1-8, four frees, two 65s), J Kelly (0-1); A Ormond (1-0), D O'Shea (0-1), L Fairbrother (0-1).

Subs: J Ryan for S Nolan (49 mins), S Doyle for D O'Shea (55 mins), F Purcell for A Ormond (61 mins).

ST KIERAN'S: D Mason; T Ronan, M Carey, L Murphy; B Lawlor, M Keoghan, K Egan; T Drea (0-1), D Phelan (0-1); E Shefflin (0-1), E Moylan, E O'Shea (0-3); D Barron (0-2), C Brennan (1-1), A Mullen (2-2, one free, one 65).

Subs: S Ryan for E Shefflin (41 mins), P Mullen for E Moylan (55 mins), R Whelan for B Lawlor (55 mins).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).

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