Contesting their third Coca Cola Leinster SHC A final in three years, Dublin Colleges finally made the breakthrough as they lifted the title for the first time at the expense of Good Counsel in a tremendous provincial final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday.

Played in ideal hurling conditions, Dublin Colleges raced into a 0-5 to nil lead after eight minutes, despite playing into the wind. Dublin forward David O'Callaghan was providing major problems for the Good Counsel defence.

The pick of those early Dublin Colleges points was a superb line cut from 40 metres by their accomplished midfielder Conal Keaney, whose shot split the Good Counsel posts. The introduction of a substitute allied to positional changes in defence steadied the ship for Good Counsel and stemmed the flow of Dublin's goals. Counsel shot four unanswered points before O'Callaghan crashed home a 25th minute goal.

Within two minutes, Good Counsel were level. First Mark Phelan scored a point from play and then turned provider for a Joe Lawler goal in the 28th minute, as the sides were 1-5 each at half-time. Stephen Fee, Dublin Colleges' corner forward, edged his side in front with a point. Then came the defining moment.

Dublin's half-forward David Baker was fouled in the large square. Conal Keaney completely fluffed his shot and hit the ball harmlessly wide. Dublin heads could have gone down at that stage, but instead they responded with an inspirational point from centre forward Gearoid Keogh.

Good Counsel's only second-half score was a 52nd-minute point from play by left full forward Willie O'Dwyer. In the end, Dublin Colleges were worthy winners and now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Munster and Harty Cup champions, St Colman's of Fermoy.

Dublin Colleges: Mac O hOgain; C O'Brien, I Franzoni, P Brennan; P Keegan, S Daly, D O'Reilly; S Hiney, C Keaney (0-3); D Baker, G Keogh (0-2), A Glennon; D O'Callaghan (1-1), S Quinn (0-1), S Fee (0-2). Subs: T O hAonghusa for Glennon, L Barrett for Fee.

Good Counsel: D Dunphy; A O'Connell, K Barron, A Murphy; T Frisby, J Murphy, D Barden; P Lyng, K Kennedy; J Lawler (1-0), T Hendrick (0-1), D Bradley (0-1); M Phelan (0-1), R Gaule (0-1), W O'Dwyer (0-2). Subs: G O'Grady for A Murphy, T cooper for Frisby, N Collins for Lawler, R Flynn and Lyng.

Referee: P Ahern (Carlow).

SFC/All-Ireland semifinal