St Kieran's edge into final

After this pulsating semi-final in Banagher, the Kilkenny school will meet Thurles CBS in the decider, but the brilliance of Evan Niland and a couple of long-range Brian Burke frees meant Presentation Athenry came agonisingly close to dethroning the champions.

Kieran's, who featured 11 of last year's Kilkenny minor panel, showed admirable calm when Brian Burke levelled the game with a minute to go, and led by the brilliant Richie Leahy, pulled clear in added time with points from each sideline from Morrissey and Connolly.

"It was a cracking game. There was nothing between us and it was nip and tuck the whole way. We are just relieved and so happy to get over the line," said Kieran's manager Liam Smith.

Scorers - St Kieran's College: R Lahart 0-7 (6fs, 1 '65'), J Connolly 0-4 (2fs), J Byrne 0-3, L Branchfield, T O'Dwyer 0-2 each, B Ryan 0-1. Presentation Athenry: E Niland 0-11 (7fs), B Burke 0-4 (2fs), S Loftus, C Burke 0-1 each.

St Kieran's College - A Mullen; M Cody, T Walsh, J Barron; J Keoghan, J Cleere, E Walsh; J Byrne, R Leahy; L Blanchfield, S Morrissey, J Connolly; R Lahart, B Ryan, T O'Dwyer. Subs: E Egan for E Walsh (46), N Walsh for Lahart (50).

Presentation Athenry - D Maloney; S Bannon, J Fitzpatrick, N Burke; C Walsh, R Doyle, C McDaid; B Concannon, S Loftus; B Callanan, B Burke, R Hardiman; E Niland, T Forde, C Burke. Subs: D Earls for Callanan (39), C Flynn for Hardiman (52), M Kennedy for Forde (55).

Ref - D Kirwan (Cork).