Tralee CBS suffered a heart breaking loss to Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar in the Hogan Cup final.
In Croke Park they went down 3-11 to 1-16.
Tralee fell a point behind in the opening minute, that deficit being doubled in the 3rd minute. The Tralee defence was then cut wide open as Colaiste Mhuire powered through for the opening goal of the encounter. By the 5 minute mark it was 1-4 to no score. Ronan Carroll had the first point for Tralee in the 8th minute. It was 1-5 to 0-2 after 10 minutes. Mairtin McKivergan pulled another point back for Tralee CBS. Gearoid White put over for the Kerry outfit to close the gap to 4 at 1-5 to 0-4 in the 14th minute. Colaiste Mhuire then struck for their second goal; making it 2-5 to 0-4 after quarter of an hour. Tralee had the next three points to move within 4 after 25 minutes at 2-5 to 0-7. The gap was down to three thanks to a Mairtin McKivergan 2 pointer after 27 minutes; 2-6 to 0-9. Unfortunately for Tralee their hard work in closing that gap was undone with the concession of a third goal in added on time. HT: Tralee CBS 0-9 Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar 3-6
Tralee's Ronan Carroll pointed the first two scores of the second half to cut the gap to 4. Tralee trailed by 5 after 40 minutes; 0-12 to 3-8. It became a one score game when Cian McKenna netted in the 41st minute; 1-12 to 3-8. One minute later Eoin O'Flaherty halved the deficit with a point. Tralee had the momentum and were level thanks to a 47th minute point from a Ronan Carroll free; 3-8 to 1-14. After 54 minutes Tralee CBS went in front courtesy of a Nick Lacey point. The sides were level within a minute. A superb run from midfield by Gearoid White ended with the same player punching over the bar in the final minute. That edged Tralee CBS ahead 1-16 to 3-9 heading towards 3 added on minutes. The equaliser came in the second of those added minutes and Colaiste Mhuire pointed again with one minute to go. Tralee CBS went in search of the leveler, Colaiste Mhuire having a player black carded for dragging an opponent down. That foul was committed some distance out from goal, and Mairtin McKivergan's subsequent effort from a free kick with what was the last kick of the game sailed wide.
St Kieran's College have won a record 26th All-Ireland Schools Senior Hurling title.
The Kilkenny students have overcome Presentation College, Athenry in the final by 3-19 to 2-16 to lift the Dr Croke Cup.
Fionn Mahony, Gearóid O’Shea and Dan Carroll scored the goals for Brian Dowling's team.
