Masita Croke Cup Final: St Kieran’s Strike Late To Beat Presentation College Athenry For 26th Title
St Kieran’s College claimed the All-Ireland Senior A schools hurling crown at the masita croke cup final at Croke Park, finishing strongly to defeat Presentation College Athenry 3-19 to 2-16. Two late goals turned a one-point deficit into a decisive win, securing a record 26th title for the Kilkenny school.
Key Moments From The Masita Croke Cup Final
The game swung repeatedly before St Kieran’s seized control in the closing stages. Athenry started the sharper, moving 0-4 to 0-1 ahead as they settled quickly. St Kieran’s struck back in the eighth minute when Gearóid O’Shea netted after a dynamic solo run from Louis Raggett, leveling it at 0-4 to 1-1.
Athenry answered with a well-taken goal by Cian Hannon and kept their noses in front approaching halftime. Four consecutive points between the 15th and 21st minutes nudged St Kieran’s 1-6 to 1-5 ahead, but a late surge left Athenry 1-9 to 1-8 up at the interval.
The third quarter was tight, the sides level five times up to 1-15 each. Athenry still led by a point with about 11 minutes remaining, but the Leinster champions then broke the game open. Substitute Dan Carroll made a crucial impact, grabbing 1-1, while Fionn Mahony’s powerful finish in the 59th minute pushed St Kieran’s well clear. They outscored Athenry 2-4 in that late spell to open a nine-point cushion in stoppage time before a consolation goal from Matthew Cloonan trimmed the margin to six at the whistle.
Scorers And Standouts
Fionn Mahony led the line for St Kieran’s with 1-4, and Gearóid O’Shea’s early goal formed part of a 1-3 return. The champions had nine different scorers, highlighting their depth. Kilkenny underage forward Jake Mullen contributed three points, and captain David Barcoe anchored the side while also getting on the scoreboard. Off the bench, Dan Carroll delivered at a key moment, notching 1-1 to help swing the contest.
For Athenry, Ciarán Leen top-scored and set the tone early, with Ronan Cahalan adding important points across both halves. Hannon’s first-half goal helped them dictate long stretches, and Cloonan’s late strike offered brief hope, but the final surge belonged to the Kilkenny school.
What The Result Means
The victory underlines St Kieran’s enduring dominance at this level, bringing their Croke Cup haul to a record 26 and marking a third triumph in the past four seasons. For Presentation College Athenry, it continues a difficult run: three final defeats in four seasons and five since 2018, several of them against the same opponents. Last year they were reeled in late after leading by eight points with 19 minutes left; in this masita croke cup final, they were again in front entering the last stretch but could not hold off the late surge.
On St Patrick’s Day at Croke Park, the final quarter once more proved decisive, with St Kieran’s composure, bench impact, and goal threat deciding the championship.
