Treacy builds platform for victory

Colleges' GAA Leinster quarter-finals/ Dublin Colleges 1-11 St Kieran's 1-6: Dublin Combined Colleges, All-Ireland senior A colleges hurling champions of 2006, are on the victory trail again.

At Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday the side from the capital completely dominated Leinster's biggest name in colleges hurling, St Kieran's, Kilkenny, for three quarters of this provincial quarter-final and then sealed victory with an injury-time goal from a line ball.

Kieran's could do little right for the opening 45 minutes. They lacked the traditional first touch of Kilkenny teams and could not match the aggression, understanding and accuracy of a flying Dublin outfit.

The winners were inspired by David Treacy, a Leinster minor medal winner with Dublin last year.

Treacy had an outstanding game at left half forward, contributing 0-6.

Although the Kilkenny college led twice early on with points from play by centre forward James Gannon and full forward Brian O'Shea, it was Dublin Colleges who took command as the game settled into a pattern.

Inspired by Treacy they racked up eight first-half points while St Kieran's remained stuck on two.

It was 0-10 to 0-3 - St Kieran's had gone a full 40 minutes without a score before James Gannon shot that third point - as the game entered the final quarter.

Then St Kieran's midfielders Conor McQuillan and Rick Leydon combined superbly for the latter to shoot a 46th-minute goal. The Kilkenny side reduced the deficit to two points in the final minutes but Dublin Colleges sealed victory when Jamie Winter cut a line ball all the way to the St Kieran's net.

Winter had earlier scored a superb point from a sideline cut from almost the same position.

DUBLIN COLLEGES: F McGarry; D O'Maolaigh, R Óg Carroll, D Curran; R O'Louglin, L Rushe, M Quilty; C Clinton, R Breathnach; J Winter (1-3 1-1 line cuts), N O'Muineachain, D Treacy (0-6, four frees); N McMurrow (0-1), A McInerney, J Stapleton (0-1). Subs: M Lawless for McInerney; F Dunleavy for Stapleton; F Clabby for Rushe; J Callaghan for O'Muineachain.

ST KIERAN'S: K Heffernan; N McQuillan, Michael Walsh, O Daly; P Dowling, M Phelan, P Phelan; C McQuillan, R Leydon (O'Loughlin Gaels, 1-0); S Butler, J Gannon (0-2), S Quinlan; S Phelan, B O'Shea (0-2), J Brennan (0-2). Subs: J Walsh for Quinlan; T Flynn for Butler.

Referee: J Owens(Wexford).