Harry Shine scores 1-5 as St.Kierans College qualify for All-Ireland semi-final

A 43rd minute penalty from Harry Shine proved crucial in helping St.Kieran’s College claim a three point victory over Gort Community School in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Colleges Quarter-Final in Cappamore this afternoon.

The former Kilkenny minor star scored 1-5 in total for the winners and even though he mishit the penalty it still found a way past Donaghy Fahy in the Gort goal.

As a result of a colour clash, the sides played in the county jerseys of Galway and Kilkenny and the first half was tightly contested.

Although they were playing against a stiff breeze, St.Kieran’s led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break after Shine as well as Anthony Ireland Wall, Donagh Murphy, Joe Fitzpatrick and Luke Connellan found the target.

Gort captain and full forward Keith Smyth did the majority of the scoring for the Galway side in that opening period but when midfielder David Keane knocked over a pair of second half points the sides were level.

Shine’s penalty then followed after Carlow man Donagh Murphy was brought down in the large square and with Shine, Ben Whitty and sub Alex Sheridan adding to the scoreboard, Kieran’s led 1-13 to 0-10.

Smyth did fire in a goal from a 21 yard free in stoppage time for Gort but it arrived too late for the beaten Connacht finalists as it proved to be the last puck of the game.

St.Kieran’s will now go on to play Harty Cup winners Tulla in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Teams and Scorers

St.Kieran’s- Harry Shine (1-5, 0-3f), Donagh Murphy, Anthny Ireland Wall (0-2 each), Alex Sheridan, Ben Whitty, Luke Connellan, Joe Fitzpatrick (0-1 each)

 Gort- Keith Smyth (1-6, 0-4f, 0-1 65), David Keane (0-3), Sean Slevin (0-1)

St Kieran’s- Alan Dunphy (Lisdowney); Jack Butler (Graigue-Ballycallan), Adam O’Connor (James Stephens),  Sean Moore (Carrickshock); Richard McEvoy (Lisdowney), Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin), Conor Cody (Clara); James Carroll (Dicksboro), Killian Doyle (Emeralds); Ted Dunne (Graiguenamanagh), Harry Shine (Dicksboro), Ben Whitty (Danesfort); Donagh Murphy (Carlow, Mount Leinster Rangers), Luke Connellan (Thomastown), Anthony Ireland Wall (Danesfort).

Subs: Alex Sheridan (O'Loughlin Gaels) for Murphy 50 mins, Nick Doheny (Dicksboro) for Ireland Wall 55 mins, Naoise Dempsey (Thomastown) for Connellan 55 mins..

Gort- Donaghy Fahy; Kianan Fahy, Evan Morgan, Eoin Fahy; Ben O’Donovan, Nathan Gill, Matthew O’Connor; David Keane, Sean Slevin; Tiernan Finn, Eanna Gantley, Luke Ketelaar; Enda Gardiner, Keith Smyth, Alex O’Flynn.

Subs: Sean Slevin for Gantley 25 mins, Alan Lee for E Fahy h-t.

Referee- John O’Halloran