Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Croke Cup Senior Hurling A final

**St Kieran’s (Kilkenny) 1-15  **Ardscoil Rís (Limerick) 1-13 

By Jackie Cahill at Semple Stadium, Thurles

St Kieran’s from Kilkenny retained their Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior A hurling crown this afternoon – and made it three Croke Cup titles in a row.

Joe Cuddihy scored 1-3 from full-forward and claimed the man of the match award as St Kieran’s collected their 21st crown in total, with Ardscoil Rís denied a maiden crown.

Indeed, it was the third time that Ardscoil had fallen at the final hurdle against St Kieran’s, following previous Croke Cup final defeats in 2010 and 2011.

In front of 3,328 spectators at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Cuddihy’s 22nd minute goal helped St Kieran’s to lead by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

Páraic O’Loughlin netted for Ardscoil Rís in the opening minute of the second half to reduce the deficit to just a single point, but St Kieran’s were five clear midway through the second half, with Colum Prendiville pointing before Cuddihy hit three in a row.

Ardscoil responded with three unanswered points of their own before Adrian Mullen, goalkeeper on last year’s winning team, picked off a crucial point from play seven minutes from time, his fifth of a productive afternoon.

A pair of Paul O’Brien frees had Ardscoil just a point down again in stoppage time but Joe Connolly boomed over the insurance score as competition specialist St Kieran’s reigned supreme yet again.

Scorers for St Kieran’s: J Cuddihy 1-3, A Mullen 0-5 (3f), E Delaney 0-2, J Connolly 0-2, M Keoghan 0-1 C Prendiville 0-1, E Moylan 0-1.

**Scorers for Ardscoil Rís: **P O’Brien 0-7 (7f), P O’Loughlin 1-2, C Boylan 0-2, B Ryan 0-1, D Cunningham 0-1.

ARDSCOIL RÍS: S Mullane; S Hogan, S Phelan, R Connolly; C Houlihan, J Boylan, N Fox; B Ryan, J Flynn; P O’Loughlin, P Casey, D Carroll; C Boylan, P O’Brien, D Fitzgerald.

Subs: R Duff for Fitzgerald (38), J Delahunty for Fox (48), D Cunningham for Carroll (49), C Moriarty for Duff (55).

ST KIERAN’S: D Phelan; C Byrne, T Walsh, E Carroll; M Kenny, D Mullen, M Cody; M Keoghan, E Delaney; A Mullen, C Prendiville, J Connolly; S Carey, J Cuddihy, E Moylan.

Subs: A Nolan for Kenny (40), G Brennan for Carey (59), N Delaney for Byrne (60+1).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)