Presentation Athenry lose their way down home stretch of final

Presentation Athenry 1-12

PRESENTATION College Athenry’s long wait for a first ever Croke Cup continues after they saw their dreams of success crushed when outscored 1-4 to two points by kingpins, St. Kieran’s College of Kilkenny, in the final quarter of last Saturday’s final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

Leading 1-10 to 0-11 with less than a quarter of an hour of normal time to play, Pres. Athenry looked to be in good fettle against a side chasing an incredible 23rd All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior ‘A’ hurling title.

However, when push came to shove, the Galway school could just not find that extra gear to discommode St. Kieran’s who, for their part, embraced their great sporting history and tradition to see out yet another colleges final in style.

The killer blow for Pres. Athenry – who, at this stage, had led 1-10 to 0-12 – came with seven minutes remaining when an Eoin Cody free fell short. Causing all sorts of consternation in the Pres. Athenry defence, substitute Conor Kelly was on hand to force the sliotar to the net.

From a Pres. Athenry perspective, it was a sloppy goal to concede but for St. Kieran’s the fillip tapped into the supposition that this competition is their domain. They struck for home as they hit an answered 1-3 in this period — 1-4 in all before the final whistle.

It was a disappointing conclusion to the Pres. Athenry adventure, particularly given they had also fallen to the same opposition after extra-time in the 2018 decider and that in recent years they have been so close to the breakthrough.

Indeed, by half-time of the game last Saturday, the signs looked good. They had started the contest brightly with two points from Mark Kennedy — free and play — and, although St. Kieran’s rallied with three Eoin Cody efforts (two from frees), Pres. Athenry were in no way daunted by the challenge. Stride for stride, they matched their illustrious opponents.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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