Late St Flannan's flourish denies Kilkenny CBC in All-Ireland Quarter-Final

There was late heartbreak for Kilkenny CBC after two goals inside the final 10 minutes saw St Flannan's of Ennis defeat the beaten Leinster Finalists in a compelling Croke Cup Quarter-Final clash.

Thomas O'Connor and Graham Ball both found the net for the Clare school as they reeled off 2-3 without reply as they overtook a CBC team that looked well placed to advance for long periods of the 60 minutes.

When Joe Dowling made it 0-13 to 0-9 in CBC's favour, the finish line looked within range but Seamus Dwyer's team failed to score from that point on as Flannan's set up a last four meeting with Pres Athenry in a fortnight's time.

This was the third year in a row that Kilkenny CBC exited the championship at this stage and this one will hurt a lot as with the wind behind them, they looked to have built up a winning score when leading 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval with Patrick Lacey once again leading the charge.

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The Dicksboro man added two more second half scores and with Joe Dowling and Zac Scanlon adding to the tally, CBC appeared to be on the cusp of a big scalp but the two Flannan's goals ensured it wasn't to be their day even if they can be glad at how they bounced back from a heavy loss in the Leinster Final.

Teams and Scorers

St. Flannan’s College: John Barry 0-6 (5f, 1’65); Thomas O’Connor 1-1; Harry Doherty 0-3 (2f); Graham Ball 1-0; Darragh McNamara, Eoin O’Connor 0-1 each

Kilkenny CBC: Patrick Lacey 0-8 (6f); Anthony Clifford, Zak Scanlon, Ollie O’Donovan, Cian Byrne, Joe Dowling 0-1 each 

St Flannan’s College: Leon Talty; Darragh Ball, Sean McNamara, Darragh Murrihy; Graham Ball, James Cullinan, Colm Daly; Isaac Hassett, John Barry; Harry Doherty, Eoin O’Connor, Rory Ralph; Thomas O’Connor, Darragh McNamara, David Loftus.

Subs:Ben Talty for Hassett (38 mins), Donncha Mahon for Loftus (41 mins), Patrick Finneran for E. O’Connor (46 mins) 

Kilkenny CBC: Rian Dowling (Dicksboro); Kealan  Barcoe (Young Irelands), N Gibbons (Dicksboro), Conor Barcoe (Thomastown); Zak O’Halloran (John Lockes), Josh Dowling (Erins Own), James Bergin (James Stephens); Paddy O’Brien (John Lockes), Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro); Luke McDonald (O’Loughlin Gaels), Patrick Lacey (Dicksboro), Joe Dowling (Dicksboro); Cian Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels), Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Zak Scanlon (James Stephens)

Subs:Jack Roche (Rower Inistioge) for O’Brien (52 mins), Adam Maher (O’Loughlin Gaels) for Joe Dowling (59 mins) 

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)