St Kieran's Kilkenny set-up Croke Cup final date with Pres College Athenry

March 07, 2026

St Kiernan's Kilkenny will play Presentation College Athenry in the Croke Cup final on St Patrick's Day ©INPHO/James Crombie

St Kieran’s Kilkenny will play Galway’s Pres College Athenry in the All-Ireland Schools SAHC final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day after both sides came through their respective semi-finals this afternoon.

The Kilkenny students were 2-18 to 2-15 winners over Nenagh CBS in Rathdowney, where Dan Carroll’s last-gasp goals proved the difference between the teams in the end.

Having led by 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time, the Munster champions looked on course to book their Croker date after adding Eanna Tucker and Joe O’Dwyer goals, but St Kieran’s outscored them by 1-5 to 0-0 in the closing stages, with Carroll landing the hammer blow at the finish, as they stayed on course for their school’s 26th All-Ireland title.

In Kilbeacanty, Presentation College, Athenry recorded a 1-18 to 1-14 win against St. Flannan's, Ennis to punch their final ticket in 10 days’ time.

Cian Hannon's goal in the 50th minute was crucial for the victors, as was Ciaran Leen’s 0-10 contribution over the 60 minutes at the south Galway venue.

The result means that the Athenry students will bid for their school’s maiden Croke Cup success at headquarters against a St Kieran’s which have emerged victorious in seven of the last 10 finals.


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