St Kieran's reach final objective

Colleges hurling All-Ireland senior semi-final/ St Kieran's 5-14 Thurles CBS 2-9: St Kieran's, Kilkenny, booked their place in this year's All-Ireland final with a comprehensive victory over Thurles CBS at Nenagh on Saturday.

Thurles opened the scoring through a long-range Michael Cahill free.

St Kieran's hit back with a TJ Reid point before Patrick Hogan's 55-yard sideline cut dropped into the back of the Thurles net. The Kilkenny side netted again three minutes later through Richie Hogan.

St Kieran's began to impose their will with Maurice Walsh bagging the Kilkenny school's third goal in the 22nd minute.

Thurles replied in kind seconds later with Ciarán Clohessy firing home from close range but the Tipperary side still trailed by 3-4 to 1-5 at half-time.

Patrick Hogan netted a fourth St Kieran's goal from a penalty in the 44th minute after his brother Richie was dragged down in the penalty area.

Clohessy fired home a second Thurles goal in the closing stages but it was a mere consolation for the Tipperary side as St Kieran's ran out convincing winners with TJ Reid bagging their fifth goal with two minutes remaining.

ST KIERAN'S: N Cleere; E O'Shea, S Campion, J Dowling; M Culleton, N Prendergast, J Dermody; P Hogan (2-2, 1-0 penalty), TJ Reid (1-3); Mark Walsh (0-1), JJ Farrell (0-1), Martin Walsh (1-0); R Hogan (1-4, 0-1 free), M Nolan (0-3, two frees), S Brennan. Subs: P Kennedy for Farrell (half-time), J Lawlor for Culleton (37 mins), J Tennyson for Dowling (60 mins).

THURLES CBS: S Gray; D Patterson, P Maher, M Gleeson; K Moran, E Ryan, M Cahill (0-1, free); J Coughlan, P Kelly; J Maher, T Hassett (0-1), P Bourke (0-2); C Clohessy (2-0), B Moran (0-3, 0-2 frees), T Hammersley (0-2). Subs: T Ryan for Patterson (37 mins), D Kirby for Maher (39 min), S Ryan for Hassett (50 mins), I Maher for Hammersley (60 mins)

Referee: S Sexton (Limerick).