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Fitzpatrick leads from the middle

Colleges  Leinster SH final: St Kieran's - 3-10 St Peter's 0-11 St Kieran's, captain James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick led by example …

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Mon Mar 31 2003 - 01:00

Colleges  Leinster SH final: St Kieran's - 3-10 St Peter's 0-11 St Kieran's, captain James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick led by example from midfield as the Kilkenny College retained their Coca Cola Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling A Title at the expense of St Peter's, Wexford, at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday.

Fitzpatrick, an All-Ireland minor hurling winner with Kilkenny in 2002, showed all the skills and also scored two points.

Beaten by St Peter's in a league tie some months back, St Kieran's were in front this time from the first minute, when centre forward Eamonn O'Gorman pointed from play.

St Peter's showed typical Wexford determination and commitment but lacked the scoring power of their opponents and failed to create a genuine goal chance over the hour.

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In the 13th minute, St Kieran's left-full forward Michael Bergin careered through the St Peter's defence to score a goal unopposed.

Just before half-time, Eoin Reid, another All Ireland minor medallist of last year, touched a James Fitzpatrick free from midfield to the St Peter's net as the champions led 2-6 to 0-4 at the break.

A minute after the restart, Reid was again on hand to crash a low ball to the St Peter's net and put his side 11 points clear.

Despite some heroic hurling by Stephen Nolan, Colm Gahan and Michael Doyle, St Peter's could only come to within eight points of their opponents in the second half.

Late in the game St Peter's midfielder Darren Foran received a straight red card for a wild pull on an opponent. Two melees developed subsequent to that sending-off, making an unsatisfactory ending to the game.

But St Kieran's were worthy winners and this win sent out a message that they will take beating in the battle for All-Ireland honours.

ST KIERAN'S: J Connolly; D Cody, D Prendergast (0-1), N Prendergast; P Butler, J Tennyson, J Walsh; D Bergin, D O'Neill (0-1); J Murphy, E O'Gorman (0-2), J Fitzpatrick (0-2); M Nolan (0-1), E Reid (2-2), M Bergin (1-1).

ST PETER'S: K Jordan; K Gore, M Kinsella, M Mythen; B Malone, S Nolan (0-2), C Gahan; E Quigley (0-1), D Foran (0-1); C Quigley, S Banville (0-1), P Waters; D Goff, M Doyle (0-2), L Kinsella (0-4). Sub: T Waters for C Quigley.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).