The scenes of joy at Harlequin Park, Cork, yesterday that greeted Kilkenny College's success in capturing the Irish schoolboys' hockey championship for the first time, said it all. Kilkenny, appearing in their first ever final, after completing the league and cup double in Leinster last season, showed admirable character to come from a goal down to draw 1-1 with defending champions Ashton. Then, with no change to the scoreline after extra time, Kilkenny took the title in winning a penalty stroke shootout, 3-2.
Ashton seized the lead in the 14th minute when Rory Heaslip found the target from a penalty corner to bring his goal tally for the tournament to 11.
With both teams playing their fifth match in three days, visibly tiring, Kilkenny summoned up all their energy to apply intense pressure and it paid off in 65th minute when Hugh Kelly equalised, also from a corner.
In the shoot-out Derek O'Gorman, Eoin Bryan and Gary Greene found the net for Kilkenny while Heaslip and David Egner were on the mark for Ashton.
SEMI-FINALS: Kilkenny 2 (G Greene, D O'Gorman) Cookstown 1 (P Marlin); Ashton 2 (S Nicholson, D Hobbs) Wesley 1 (A Walker); final: Kilkenny 1 (H Kelly) Ashton 1 (R Heaslip) aet - Kilkenny won 3-2 on strokes.
Monkstown and Railway Union provide the most cosmopolitan pairing in tomorrow's Leinster Senior League programme, writes Dermot Ashmore. The return to action, though, of two home-grown figures, Conor O'Brien and Owen Butler, has galvanised Railway and, with a wily tactician in Shawn Hopkins, they probably will take full points at Rathdown to renew their quest for a top-three place at the season's end.
Pembroke Wanderers, not at their sharpest in the 2-2 draw with Railway last weekend, moved more fluently in beating Three Rock Rovers 3-1 on Tuesday night. Exhorted by Nigel Henderson, they will be expected to record a home win against YMCA.
Stephen Kinsella has been prominent in keeping Avoca off the rocks as they have taken longer than anticipated to get their most accomplished crew on board. Jonathan Cole will want more than a draw from tomorrow's northside trip to meet Clontarf.
Glenanne, having not fired fully against depleted Avoca in the Stephen Doyle final, should give a stronger performance against Three Rock at Tallaght, though it could be difficult to break down the cover if Liam Canning is available to lie deep for Rovers.
Corinthians, whose campaign has been featured by late recoveries, may need to stretch themselves again to deny Aer Lingus of some reward at Whitechurch.
