Penalty joy for St Kieran's as they claim dramatic Leinster title win over Kilkenny CBS

St Kieran's are Leinster PPS Senior Hurling champions once again but not before they survived an almighty scare with close neighbours Kilkenny CBS in this afternoon's Corn UI Dhuill Final at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Both sides produced a serious effort in a game that went all the way to penalties with Cian Phelan netting the winning strike on the back of Jake Mullen and Noah Manogue also finding the target.

It was the most cruel way for CBS to taste defeat as they were heroic in their endeavours throughout with Patrick Lacey who hit an incredible 1-12 in total and Anthony Clifford both scoring goals in stoppage time at the end of normal and extra-time.

There was very little between the Kilkenny rivals over the course of the 80 plus minutes and it was CBS who began the better when going three points clear before a flicked John Fitzpatrick goal levelled the sides at 1-9 to 0-12 by the half-time interval.

Kieran's then hit the front at the start of the second half on the back of scores from Noah Manogue who was excellent on the frees and Ed Lauhoff who also ended up with four points from play.

The winners indiscipline then went astray for a short spell in which Lacey took advantage with five frees on the spin for the James's Street CBS outfit and it was them who then took control on the scoreboard for a period.

The up and down nature of the contest continued however until Kieran's nailed four points on the trot with Jake Mullen, Noah Manogue and Ruairi Murphy helping the All-Ireland champions into a 1-18 to 0-18 lead.

It was still far from over though with Anthony Clifford feeding Patrick Lacey for a blasted goal that saw CBS save their skin and bring the game to extra-time.

Kieran's again built up a lead in the extra period but they still couldn't fend off a CBS team that defeated them in thr group-stages before Christmas.

A quickfire 1-1 from Dicksboro star Anthony Clifford looked like it may even spur the CBS to an unlikely success but with Lauhoff and Mullen adding on points before Zak O'Halloran levelled matters at 1-25 to 2-22, penalties soon awaited.

The same two schools required penalties to seperate them a couple of weeks ago at junior level but unlike on that occasion, this time it was Kieran's who got the bounce of the ball as they claimed a 58th provincial title in their history.

The winners go straight to an All-Ireland Semi-Final at the start of March but all is not lost for Kilkenny CBS with a quarter-final against the losers of the Connacht Final between Claregalway and Athenry to come in a fortnights time and on this evidence they will be very stern opponents indeed.

Teams and Scorers

St Kieran's College- Noah Manogue (0-13, 0-10 frees); Ed Lauhoff (0-4); Jake Mullen (0-4, 0-2 frees); John Fitzpatrick (1-0); Sean Deely, Louis Raggett, Sam Hayes, Ruairi Murphy (0-1 each)

Kilkenny CBS- Patrick Lacey (1-12, 0-7 frees and 0-1 '65); Anthony Clifford (1-2); Ollie O'Donovan (0-4); Cian Byrne, Zak O'Halloran, Josh Dowling, Paddy O'Brien (0-1 each)

St Kieran's College- Luke Lawlor (Clara); Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock), Evan Murphy (Dicksboro), Conor Brophy (Erin's Own); Sam Hayes (Danesfort), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks), David Barcoe (Clara); Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens), Louis Raggett (Dicksboro); Jim Conlon (Young Irelands), Sean Deely (James Stephens), Noah Manogue (James Stephens); Bill McDermott (James Stephens), Ciallin Brennan (Tullaroan), John Fitzpatrick (Shamrocks).

Subs: Eoghan Cahill (Graigue Ballycallan) for McDermott, 41 mins; Ruairi Murphy (Mount Leinster Rangers, Carlow) for Brennan, 41 mins; Darragh Coverdale (Danesfort) for Raggett, 47 mins; Cian Phelan (Young Irelands) for Fitzpatrick, 51 mins. 

Kilkenny CBS- Daniel McCormack (O'Loughlin Gaels); Matthew Bolger (St Martin's), Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Conor Barcoe (Thomastown); Kealan Barcoe (Young Irelands), Josh Dowling (Erin's Own), Patrick Purcell (Barrow Rangers); Donnchadh Hennessy (Dicksboro), Paddy O'Brien (John Lockes); Cian Byrne (O'Loughlin Gaels), Patrick Lacey (Dicksboro), Niall Drennan (Galmoy); Zac Scanlon (James Stephens), Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro), Ollie O'Donovan (John Lockes).

Subs: Sam O'Shea (Dicksboro) for Drennan, 33 mins; Zak O'Halloran (John Lockes) for K.Barcoe, 54 mins; James Cleere (Dicksboro) for Purcell, 59 mins.

Referee- Michael Cleere (Laois)