St Kieran's Kilkenny 2-13 Good Counsel, New Ross 2-10: Leinster and All-Ireland champions St Kieran's survived in a tight, exciting provincial semi-final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday. It was point for point throughout the first half with St Kieran's free-taker Maurice Nolan and his Good Counsel counterpart Paddy Raftice the chief marksmen.
Goals from Richie Hogan and Maurice Nolan gave the champions space but a Raftice goal and a superb overhead strike by Nicky Anthony left only a goal between the sides.
ST KIERAN'S: N Cleere; E O'Shea, S Campion, J Dowling; M Culleton, N Prendergast, N Tennyson; P Hogan, M Nolan (1-6, six frees); Mark Walsh (0-4), JJ Farrell (0-1), J Dermody, R Hogan (1-2, 0-1 free), TJ Reid, Martin Walsh. Subs: P Kennedy for Dermody; J Lawler for Martin Walsh; S Brennan for Kennedy.
GOOD COUNSEL: M Gaule; R Coady, K Joyce, R Kinsella; JJ Kenny, S O'Hanlon, G Hill; M Molloy, P Hartley (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '65); T Dollard, R Dollard (0-1), C Ryan, N Anthony (1-0), P Cullen (0-1), P Raftice (1-4, 0-4 frees). Subs: P O'Hanrahan (0-1) for T Dollard; J Flynn for Hill.
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).
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