St Coleman's 0-11 St Kieran's 2-4 Once the skies opened even the grand stage of Semple Stadium looked forlorn and the quality of this All-Ireland hurling final was doomed to compromise. Yet the will of both sides never weakened and St Colman's were tested with force until the finish before successfully defending their title.

The tension reached a crescendo over the last five minutes as the Fermoy school fought hard to defend their one-point advantage. Though St Kieran's had their chances to draw level again, with one last effort coming desperately close, it was a flurry of scores at two key stages in the second half that ultimately won the title for the St Colman's - their fourth Croke Cup honour in all.

Not that the Kilkenny side ever made it easy for them. Searching to extend their record of honours to 15 titles they may have been underdogs but certainly not soft opposition. Each time St Colman's threatened to pull away in the second half, St Kieran's dug a little deeper and ensured the contest was far from concluded until the final whistle.

By then, however, the greater depth and class of St Colman's had gradually emerged. Though with the April rain full of winter sting, it took a while for both sides to find their true form. Having won the toss, St Colman's gambled on playing against the stiff wind.

Though the conditions improved at times, the slackness always didn't and a solitary score separated the sides after the first 20 minutes. What was more surprising was the softness of the score. St Kieran's captain Michael Rice lobbed a harmless sideline towards the goal but in his efforts to clear the ball, Kieran Curtin slipped it into his own net. It was an unfortunate blip in a defence up to then greatly inspired by captain Maurice O'Brien at centre back.

At the other end, though, the St Colman's attack - playing with a two-man full forward line of Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Luke Philpott - had clear problems finding their rhythm. Sean O'Connor added another St Kieran's score before finally, on 23 minutes, Patrick Kirby slipped over the first St Colman's point.

Still the hesitancy of both sides persisted and only a couple more points were exchanged before the break, which arrived with St Kieran's holding a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

As promised, though, the St Colman's forwards found a new gear. Three points in two minutes, the most majestic from wing back Richard Relihan and a sweet sideline too from O'Shaughnessy, put them in front for the first time. St Kieran's would quickly respond, but it was this period of play that gave St Colman's the confidence to go on and win.

The St Kieran's response came through a second goal. O'Connor played a short ball to Eoin Reid and he skipped through the defence before unleashing an unstoppable shot at goal. Likewise, however, the St Colman's reply was swift as corner back Eamonn Condon sent over another long range point to level the scores yet again.

Going into the final quarter there was still no obvious winner in either team. O'Shaughnessy remained uncharacteristically quiet, while Stephen Molumphy and Rice exchanged scores.

Crucially, St Colman's then put over two scores in succession. The first from midfielder Aidan Kearney was typically powerful as was O'Shaughnessy's free five minutes from time.

Two points behind, all the pressure was now on St Kieran's. Reid had another dangerous shot on goal but 'keeper Denis Fitzgerald got the vital touch and pushed the ball over for a point instead.

Still Colman's looked worried, all the time wary that they'd never beaten the Kilkenny side in the final before, and especially aware of their last final meeting in 1996 when St Kieran's took the title after a late, late goal.

But their last chance here was a high and wide ball from James Fitzpatrick. At the other end Kirby could have taken some of the pressure off only for his ball to come off the crossbar, but one point proved the difference between heartbreak and wild celebrations.

ST COLMAN'S: D Fitzgerald; J Dorgan, B Lane, E Condon (0-1); R Relihan (0-1), M O'Brien (capt), K Curtin; S Stack, A Kearney (0-1); P Kirby (0-2, 1f), J O'Donnell, S Molumphy (0-1); A O'Shaughnessy (0-3, 2fs, 1 sideline), L Philpott, P Kearney (0-2).

ST KIERAN'S: R Power; D Nolan, J Lennon, D Prendergast; G Holden, J Tennyson, P Kennedy; M Rice (capt, 1-1), B Doyle; S O'Connor (0-1), M Heffernan, E O'Gorman; E Reid (1-1), S O'Neill, J Fitzpatrick (0-1). Subs: W McCormack for Doyle (58 mins).

Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin).