O'Connor strikes at the death

SCHOOLS HOCKEY: After absorbing a huge amount of Wesley pressure, Kilkenny College poached a goal midway through extra-time to carry off the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup for the third time in five years at Grange Road yesterday.

Wesley had been expected to retain the trophy, especially as they had eliminated their Dublin rivals and all-Ireland champions, St Andrew's, in the second round. They surged forward through Andrew Walker and Phelie Maguire, but first-half chances went astray - and Kilkenny began to see some hope.

The Wesley onslaught continued in the second half, but there was no way through at the edge of the circle as Richie O'Malley and Stephen Greene were totally defiant in the Kilkenny cover. Furthermore, there was always relief when their captain, Francis Lee, gained possession and used it menacingly, even if there was little sign of penetrating an assured Wesley defence commanded by Neil Lyons.

It looked as if the issue was going to be decided on penalty strokes, but just before the extra-time change-over, Kilkenny managed to force their second short corner from which Alec Barrett's drag flick hit the crossbar and the ball fell for Brian O'Connor to pot the winner.

KILKENNY COLLEGE: J Statham; Stuart Greene, Stephen Greene, R O'Malley, K Gahan; F Lee (capt), S Creane, A Barrett, E O'Connor; B O'Connor, R Bourke. Subs: P Collins, A McIntyre. Player of the match: F Lee.

WESLEY COLLEGE: M Harkin; C Sargeant, A Blennerhassett, N Lyons, M Maguire; P Blakeney, A Walker (capt), R Pearson; C Wilson, P Maguire, M Good. Sub: S Smythe.

Umpires: A Groves, J Girdham.

Centre-forward Scott Evans, who had accomplished support from Chris Pelow, put away all Wesley's goals in their 4-1 defeat of St Columba's in a skilful Minor Cup final in which Charles Cousans replied.

WESLEY: I Walker; G Baugh-Foley; R Motyer, H Micks, R Scanlon; A McCutcheon, S Furlong, C Pelow; S Cinnamond (capt), S Evans, T Hill. Subs: D Lyons, J McGann, E Margetson, S Brownlow, R Gribben. Player of match: S Evans.

ST COLUMBA'S: O Harrison; S Stogdale, J Cafolla, C Irwin, W Evans; D Oriol, J Moore (capt), A Mitchell; R Cork, C Cousans, B Cork. Subs: R Van Aart, A Philpot, N Grumbley.

Umpires: M O'Brien, F Walsh