Brian Dowling happy with Kieran's progress ahead of showdown with Kilkenny CBS

St Kieran’s were impressive all over the field in the Leinster semi-final victory over Good Cousel last week and manager Brian Dowling was happy his side booked a place in this Saturday's provincial decider.

“We came down here for a tough game and we put up a big score in the first half.

“They got a goal which we wouldn’t be happy about but overall we are pleased as we now have a Leinster Final to look forward to,” he said afterwards.

Despite the big margin of success, the O’Loughlin Gaels clubman took nothing for granted with Kieran’s not playing a top level game in some two months.

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“It felt so long since we played a competitive game and our last match was actually against Good Counsel in the round-robin back in November.

“That’s a long time ago and we’ve played a couple of challenge games since but you just don’t know where you are at and the lads really kicked it on the last few weeks and all year our aim was to reach a Leinster Final even if we’ve a tough game against an excellent Kilkenny CBS team.”

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The game was delayed by a week after Ferns in Wexford was deemed unplayable for the initial fixture and the Kieran’s boss was hugely complimentary of the all-weather surface in Carlow.

“The pitch is a brilliant asset for SETU Carlow and they are after hosting both Leinster semi-finals now and if it was on a grass pitch it would have been called off again.

“We were very disappointed last week with the cancelled fixture as we were all ready to go and then we got word it was off and that is difficult when you are so prepared to play.

“In fairness though they are great facilities and while it’s a different type of hurling on an astro, we’ve played a couple of challenge games on it and that definitely stood to us.”

The former Kilkenny player also had a word for his team captain David Barcoe after he started Kilkenny’s opening league fixture in advance of the Kieran’s game.

“David (Barcoe) is our captain and he is a great lad as well as a big leader and he sets the standards for this group. We are very proud of him that he’s on the Kilkenny senior panel as not many Leaving Certs will get that honour. This is his last year in the school and he wants to drive it on.”

Saturday's local derby is the third year running that the two Kilkenny schools have met in the final with Kieran’s prevailing on both occasions. The 2025 version was only decided via a penalty shootout however and  Dowling knows a tough game awaits.

“It’s going to be a difficult game and there is no point in saying anything different as every time we play them there is nearly only a puck of the ball between the sides.

“Last year there wasn’t even a puck of the ball in it and I hope it doesn’t go to penalties again as I don’t think my heart could take it.

“It’s two good teams and the players know each other very well with a lot of lads from the same club and even on the management side we know each other very well but for 60 minutes or 80 minutes or however long it takes we will go to war,” he said.

“It’ll be a great game and hopefully it will be a good standard and obviously both sides will be trying their best to win and hopefully we can do enough to come out on top.”

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