*Thomas O’Connor at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ST FLANNAN’S College have exited the Croke Cup at the semi-final stage to Presentation Athenry.
Presentation College Athenry 1-18
St. Flannan’s College 1-14
Venue: Kilbeacanty
When opportunity knocked, it was Presentation Athenry that were most eager to answer and complete a second successive Croke Cup victory over St. Flannan’s College in Kilbeacanty.
Having been agonisingly edged out by only the minimum in last year’s All-Ireland Senior A PPS Hurling decider by Thurles CBS in Croke Park, the back-to-back Connacht champions again showed the greater consistency to lead for the majority and deservedly book their place in the final against St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny on St. Patrick’s Day.
Much like last year’s heartbreaking Croke Cup quarter-final exit to the same opposition in Gort, it was another thoroughly frustrating afternoon for St. Flannan’s who had more than enough chances to win two matches but ended up with more wides than scores.
Some of the decision-making and ambitious shooting which had dogged their seven previous Harty and Croke Cup matches but were predominantly papered over by those spectacular comebacks, came back to haunt them once more.
Indeed, the Ennis side hit 17 wides and took only one of five glorious goal chances, far too profligate to realistically reached the promised land of Croke Park for the first time in two decades.
They hoped that after a series of seesaw performance that things would finally come together for a solid hour’s display when needed most at the penultimate stage. However, Presentation College Athenry would prove the rocks of consistency, epitomised most by a ten point haul from county senior panelist Ciaran Leen.
More to Follow
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers for Presentation College Athenry: Ciaran Leen 0-10 (7f, 1’65, 1sl), Cian Hannon 1-1, Ronan Cahalan 0-3, Niall McCarthy 0-2, Aodhan McDonagh 0-1, Shay Brady 0-1
Scorers for St. Flannan’s College: John Barry 0-7 (5f), Harry Doherty 1-3, Graham Ball 0-1, Patrick Finneran 0-1, Thomas O’Connor 0-1, James Cullinan 0-1
Presentation College Athenry
1: Cathal Mannion (Athenry)
7: Shay Brady (Athenry)
3: Michael Lewis (Killimordaly)
4: Eanna McDonagh (Athenry)
36: Cian Donoghue (Clarinbridge)
6: Robert Burke (Kilconieron)
5: Ronan McGlynn (Athenry)
8: Aodhan McDonagh (Athenry)
9: Iarlaith Leen Craughwell)
10: Ronan Cahalan (Killimordaly)
12: Cian Hannon (Athenry)
11: Niall McCarthy (Athenry)
15: Niall Kelly (Athenry)
14: Ciaran Leen (Craughwell)
13: Anthony Poniard (Athenry)
Subs
29: Matthew Cloonan (Craughwell) for Kelly (53)
20: Johnny Dunleavy (Turloughmore) for Poniard (63)
St Flannan’s College
1: Leon Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
4: Darragh Murrihy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
3: Sean McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
2: Conor Hill (Ballyea)
5: Darragh Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
6: James Cullinan (Ruan)
7: Colm Daly (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Graham Ball (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
9: John Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona)
15: Darragh McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
11: Patrick Finneran (Clooney-Quin)
12: Rory Ralph (Clarecastle)
13: Eoin O’Connor (Ballyea)
14: Thomas O’Connor (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
10: Harry Doherty (Clarecastle)
Subs
20: Ben Talty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Hill (37)
22: David Loftus (Éire Óg) for E. O’Connor (50)
18: Jamie Ryan (Ruan) for D. Ball (57, inj)
23: Jason Keane Hayes (Kilmaley) for D. McNamara (60, inj)
Referee: Cian Ryan (Tipperary)
