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18 Mar 2026
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18 Mar 2026
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St Kieran's College captain David Barcoe has credited the team's training in the off-season for their strong performance in the closing minutes of their All-Ireland final defeat of Presentation Athenry.
The Kilkenny school were crowned All-Ireland Croke Cup champions for a record 26th time, keeping their spot at the top of the roll of honour, after they ran out six point winners over their Galway opponents on St Patrick's Day.
"We worked well as a unit there today. I suppose all the work we've done over the winter helped us in the last 15 minutes, (and gave us) the fitness that we have to do it," Barcoe told CRKC Sport after the match.
"We worked hard for this all year and it's an unbelievable feeling," he added.
PICTURES: St Kieran's College All-Ireland champions for 26th time - Kilkenny Live
Meanwhile, manager Brian Dowling spoke glowingly of his players.
"Any day you come up to Croke Park and play an All-Ireland final, you just want to win it," Dowling said on the full-time whistle.
"All the credit goes to them players. We have 40 players and from one to 40, the effort they have put in all year has been terrific," he continued.
The Kilkenny native has been kept very busy this season, as on top of managing the local school, he's continued to take the Kildare senior hurling team from strength to strength, with the Lilywhites looking forward to a historic campaign in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
"I have a good wife at home who allows me to be involved. It's not easy, Richie Ruth is kind of like a second wife at this stage," Dowling jokingly commented.
"You can't really enjoy the victories because you're focusing on Kildare the next day, but look, we're going to enjoy this. These days don't come around every day and it's a new group for us in there. They have to enjoy it.
"There's 25 lads who wore the Kieran's jersey for the last time today so look, we're just thrilled to be All-Ireland champions again and we're going to enjoy it."
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