Bergin plays captain's role

Colleges Hurling Leinster Senior championship semi-final/Kilkenny 0-16 Good Counsel 0-10:Champions Kilkenny CBS booked their place in the Leinster Colleges senior hurling A final with a six-point win over Good Counsel on Saturday.

Captain Mark Bergin led by example for the Kilkenny side, scoring nine of his side's 16 points in Thomastown.

The CBS controlled most of the first half, and led by 0-9 to 0-6 at half-time.

That lead could have been greater, but Shane Maher saw his 15th-minute penalty brilliantly stopped by Counsel goalkeeper Niall Breen.

Played on a heavy pitch, both sides struggled for scores in the second half.

However, it was the CBS who found their range with greater frequency. Bergin (four), John Fitzpatrick, Martin Gaffney and Maher all hit the target, while the CBS backs limited Counsel to just four points, scored by Tom Fitzharris (three) and Michael Maloney, all from frees.

The champions will face Kilkenny opposition in the final - either St Kieran's College or Castlecomer CS who will contest the second semi-final in Nowlan Park on Wednesday.

KILKENNY CBS: S Murphy; J Traynor, D Kenny, R Doyle; P Nolan, D Langton, E Malone; M Kelly (0-1), J Fitzpatrick (0-1); M Gaffney (0-2), T Langton, M Bergin (0-9, seven frees); P Guinan (0-1), S Maher (0-2), A Stapleton. Subs: O Walsh for T Langton, L Ryan for Stapleton.

GOOD COUNSEL: N Breen; C Redmond, R Nolan, M O'Hanlon; J Reade, M Maloney (0-1, free), P Kehoe; P Whelan (0-1), S Grace; H Kehoe (0-1), PJ Carroll, E Kent; J O'Hanrahan, T Fitzharris (0-6, five frees), P O'Gorman (0-1). Subs: S Kavanagh for O'Hanrahan, P Gannon for Reade, P Fleming for Carroll.

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).