A late goal from Sean Hunt meant St Martin's maintained their proud record of hurling either in the senior or intermediate ranks since their formation in 1985 with a heroic 2-11 to 0-15 win over the Fenians.
Fenians led all the way from from the 20th minute to deep into stoppage time when Hunt, a Kilkenny under-20 panelist, snatched the game in dramatic fashion, turning a 0-15 to 1-11 deficit into a two point lead, an advantage they would not forfeit.
The loss will feel like the cruelest of blows for the Johnstown faithful who enter the junior grade for the first time since 1968.
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