Peter’s won colleges ‘A’ title after replay
ST. PETER’S College raced to an emphatic 5-10 to 4-5 victory over Coláiste Chríost Rí in an entertaining All-Ireland Colleges Senior hurling final replay at Croke Park, having played a 4-3 to 3-6 draw seven days earlier.
The Cork college was bidding to become the first side to win the Hogan and Croke Cups in the same season, but it was a magnificent St. Peter’s display that foiled that record bid.
The hurling was at all times fluid but the most notable feature was the terrific pace at which it was played.
St. Peter’s were deserving winners, having taken some time to settle down, but once they found their feet they went on to serve up one of the most scintillating performances given by a colleges team for many a day.
Powered on by six of the victorious team of the previous year, St. Peter’s showed vast improvement on their display in the drawn game and a magnificent second-half display proved too much for the Cork side.
St. Peter’s strength was down the middle. Full-back Jim Quigley and centre-back Larry Byrne gave magnificent displays, while at midfield they held the edge through the swift hurling of Martin Casey and Philip Kennedy.
Martin Quigley, a stylish and forcecul player, led the attack with dash and intelligence and took his scores superbly.
The Cork boys led by 4-0 to 1-1 after 15 minutes, with two of their goals coming from over 60 yards, but gradually Casey and Kennedy began to get a grip in midfield, supported by the superb Byrne from centre-back.
By half-time St. Peter’s led by 3-5 to 4-1, with Martin Quigley, Declan O’Brien and Martin Byrne providing the goals.
Little showed between the teams through the early stages of the second-half, but goals from Dec O’Brien and Martin Casey in the 51st and 54th minutes paved the way for a dramatic victory.
St. Peter’s College: Denis Kinsella (Ferns St. Aidan’s); Paddy Breen (Horeswood), Jim Quigley (Rathnure), Mick Murphy (Bannow-Ballymitty); Larry Harney (Buffers Alley), Larry Byrne (Kilmore-Rathangan), Aidan Kerrigan (St. Patrick’s); Philip Kennedy (St. James’), Martin Casey (Buffers Alley, 1-2); Martin Byrne (Askamore, 1-1), Martin Quigley (Rathnure, 1-4), Watty French (Bannow-Ballymitty, 0-2); Joe Kavanagh (HWH-Bunclody, 0-1), Seamus Kane (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), Declan O’Brien (St. Mary’s, Rosslare, 2-0).
Scorers in the drawn game were: Martin Casey 1-2, Joe Kavanagh, Martin Byrne and Declan O’Brien 1-0 each, Martin Quigley 0-1.