Historic All-Ireland hurling title as Limerick's Ardscoil Ris crowned Croke Cup champions

ARDSCOIL RIS were crowned All-Ireland hurling champions in Croke Park this St Patricks Day.

The Limerick city side won the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A Hurling Championship title - Croke Cup - for the first time in their history.

This titanic battle finished Ardscoil Ris 1-17 St Kierans 0-17 in front of an attendance of 4080 in GAA Headquarters and the live television of TG4.

Ardscoil Ris have won five Harty Cup titles since their 2010 breakthrough but lost this All-Ireland final on three occasions - 2010, '11 and '16.

This afternoon, managed by teachers Niall Moran, Cormac O'Donovan and Paul Flanagan, and with a starting line-up representing 12 clubs, Ardscoil Ris joined Limerick CBS as Croke Cup champions - Sexton St winning in 1964 and '66.

David Kennedy got the all-important goal in the 56th minute.

Backed by the breeze Ardscoil Ris scored the final seven points of the opening half to bring a 0-11 to 0-6 lead into the half time dressing room beneath the Hogan Stand.

The final was level for the third time at 0-6 each on 21-minutes when the Limerick side found top gear. They had recorded seven wides prior to this but finished the half on top for a five point interval lead.

It was a tentative start from both sides but Ardscoil Ris were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead on six minutes with two points from David Kennedy leading the way.

Then came a run of wides successive wides across 11-minutes for the Limerick city side as St Kierans went 0-5 to 0-3 ahead - centre back Joe Fitzpatrick with two long range efforts for the side in black and white.

Niall O'Farrell (free) ended the barren spell for Ardscoil Ris and when Rian O'Byrne was fouled O'Farrell stood over a 20th minute penalty. Alas Alan Dunphy saved the low drive and up the field went St Kierans to edge 0-6 to 0-4 ahead and 10-minutes to the break.

St Kierans weren't to score again as Ardscoil Ris dominated to half time.

Man of the Match Shane O'Brien levellled and then O'Farrell pointed from the sideline at the Cusack Stand side to tie up the final at 0-6 each.

O'Brien went close to a goal but his shot was saved out for a '65 at the near post - O'Farrell pointed the resulting '65 to put the Limerick side back in front for the first time since the 15th minute.

O'Byrne and further O'Farrell scores then helped Ardscoil Ris into the half time break, 0-11 to 0-6 clear.

Within three minutes of the restart, the Kilkenny side had made in-roads and left just a goal between the teams.

It was the ninth minute when Shane O'Brien reopened the Limerick account.

Still St Kierans looked on top and had the game down to two points entering the final quarter.

Niall O'Farrell popped up with a point from play and from a free and it was 0-14 to 0-10 with 10-minutes on the stopwatch.

Ben Whitty point kept the Kilkenny side in touch until David Kennedy's goal four minutes from the end moved Ardscoil Ris 1-15 to 0-13 clear.

SCORERS: Ardscoil Ris: Niall O'Farrell 0-8 (4frees, 1 '65), David Kennedy 1-3, Shane O'Brien 0-3, Jack Golden, Rian O'Byrne and Dylan Lynch 0-1 each.

St Kierans: Joe Fitzpatrick 0-4 (1free), Ben Whitty 0-4 (1free, 1 65), Harry Shine 0-3 (1free), Padraig Naddy, James Carroll, Paddy Langton and Donagh Murphy 0-1 each.

ARDSCOIL RIS: Seimi Gully (Clonlara); Evan O'Leary (Ahane), John Fitzgerald (Na Piarsaigh), Colm Flynn (Sixmilebridge); Michael Gavin (Ballybrown), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh); JJ Carey (Na Piarsaigh), Rian O'Byrne (Crecora-Manister); Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Jack Golden (Monaleen); Brian O'Keeffe (Murroe-Boher), Niall O'Farrell (Broadford), David Kennedy (Sixmilebridge). Subs: Riain McNamara (Cratloe) for John Fitzgerald, inj (37mins), Dylan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh) for Colm Flynn (47mins), Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara) for Rian O'Byrne (58mins), Sean McMahon (Smith O'Briens) for Brian O'Keeffe (59mins).

ST KIERANS: Alan Dunphy, Jack Butler, Adam O’Connor, Paddy Langton; Padraig Lennon, Joe Fitzpatrick, Conor Cody; James Carroll, Killian Doyle; Ted Dunne, Harry Shine, Ben Whitty; Donagh Murphy, Luke Connellan, Padraig Naddy. Subs: Anthony Ireland Wall for Padraig Naddy (41mins), Alex Sheridan for Donagh Murphy (51mins), Nick Doheny for Ted Dunne (56mins).

REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).