St Kieran’s College Juvenile team faced a difficult challenge against a combined Dublin Colleges side in the Leinster A Hurling Colleges final. It was a wet and blustery day but the wind and rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the St Kieran’s boys on the field or supporters in the stand.
From the throw-in Dublin opened the scoring with a great point by Sean Corcoran.
St Kieran’s replied with a well taken free from their captain, Diarmuid Cody. From the puck out, Chris Bolger had a point blank effort saved by the Dublin goalkeeper, Keith Robinson. The sides were very evenly balanced and it was obvious that this was going to be a close game. Dublin piled on the pressure but only managed a few scores against a resolute Kieran’s defence led by James Tyrrell at full back. St Kieran’s battled hard against a stiff wind and the teams were level at the interval at four points apiece.
In the second half both teams came out of the blocks quickly with Dublin opening the scoring with two good points by their full forward, Oisín O’Rourke. However St Kieran’s continued to fight hard and points were added by Chris Bolger and Stephen Farrell to keep the Kilkenny lads in touch. In the 52nd minute the game opened up a little as Dublin managed to get by the Kieran’s defence for a well taken goal. Diarmuid Cody once again responded with a well taken point from a free, followed by a goal chance for Bolger which went narrowly wide. Dublin won two frees in quick succession which were both converted by O’Rourke and many felt that the day would be Dublin’s.
However a long puck out by the Kieran’s keeper, Vincent Teehan, was added to by James Maher and the ball eventually broke for the on-running Chris Bolger who smashed the ball to the bottom left hand corner of the net. This left a point between the teams and time was running out for the Kieran’s team. Kieran’s now had most of the possession but were unable to capitalise on their scoring, having had one point disallowed for a square infringement and they hit another two wides.
It looked as though it was all over as the game was now two minutes into injury time with Dublin one point up. However, the resilient Eoin Gough at centre half back won a free near the 65 line on the stand side of the park. Diarmuid Cody stepped up to take it. This would surely be the last puck of the game and the Kieran’s fans were praying that Cody could convert this free to push the game into extra time. Cody’s free landed the ball into the square. Dublin defenders panicked. The Kieran’s forwards battled to win the ball. Out of nowhere stepped up substitute William Dooley, who had the strength to win the ball and smash it into the back of the net, leaving two points to Kieran’s advantage.
There only remained time for one last Dublin attack which James Maher won in mid-field and the referee’s final whistle was met with jubilant scenes from the St Kieran’s College supporters. It ended St Kieran’s College 2-8 : Dublin South 1-9 – a close, hard fought, memorable game which saw St Kieran’s College lift the Dr Barry Cup and be crowned the Leinster Juvenile Colleges Champions 2009.
