Kilkenny Hurling final/James Stephens 2-16 Young Irelands 3-12: Maybe it had something do to with the clocks going back, but Young Irelands were late getting into yesterday's Kilkenny hurling final. Too late to stop James Stephens winning their first title since 1981, but still in time to make it one of the more memorable finals of recent years.

From halfway out it seemed James Stephens would win comfortably. The crowd of about 10,000 had settled into their seats and didn't have much reason to move off them until Young Irelands launched a remarkable comeback over the final 10 minutes, during which time the title could quite easily have gone either way.

Those 10 minutes also showed DJ Carey can still prove unbeatable value for money. No over-pricing here. He picked off 3-1 in that time, scored 3-6 in total, and so nearly won back the title for Young Irelands for only the third time.

Instead, they were left a point short - always hard to stomach, but probably as close as they deserved.

Still, Carey made sure James Stephens didn't walk away with it. Entering those last 10 minutes Young Irelands were down by eight points, 1-15 to 0-10, and even Carey must have figured there was no way back. Most of the onlookers certainly did.

Dick Carroll first clawed back a point, but the rest was left to Carey. On 55 minutes he rifled a 21-yard free into the top right corner of the James Stephens goal.Damage limitation, we thought. Then on 58 minutes he did the same, having been himself fouled when charging cutely at the opposition. They've a chance now, we thought, two points down.

This time though the James Stephens response was immediate.

Eoin McCormack set up substitute Joe Murray, and his shot thundered into the Young Irelands net. It seemed to kill off the great comeback. Instead, it simply inspired Carey to even more.

With the clock now slipped past the hour, Philly Larkin made an unlikely error in the James Stephens defence. As a result, Donnacha Cody was forced to bring down Carroll, with the price being a penalty. Up stepped Carey and vroooom . . . the margin was back to two points.

How much left to play? But only a quick glance at the watch: again Carroll was busy setting up his team-mate, and in the process won another 21-yard free.

Up stepped Carey to win it. His shot flew an inch over the bar. Moments later, Carey collapsed to his knees. The James Stephens players ran to celebrate a hard but deserved victory.

"Yeah, it's hard when it goes down to the wire like that," said Carey, "but I think we were fortunate enough that it did. We did put in a big effort at the end, and another inch lower with that last one and we could be champions. But that's sport.

"But the Village (James Stephens) were hurling very well. For us, it was just about trying and trying. We got the three goals, but their first-half goal was the killer. But I suppose we've had our luck in these finals. But I don't think we were unlucky today."

Clearly, though, the Gowran club had left themselves with too much to do. Though the teams were level five times in the opening 20 minutes, James Stephens were proving more constructive. Centre forward Eoin Larkin - cousin of defender Philly Larkin and part of the All-Ireland winning under-21 panel - was busiest of all, soon leading the way in scores along with Eoin and David McCormack.

On 23 minutes they got their first glimpse of daylight.

Joe Murphy passed smartly to Gary Whelan, and his shot drifted towards Martin Carey in the Young Irelands goal. For some reason, though, it was misjudged, and dropped into the net. James Stephens were 1-5 to 0-5 up and ready to take over.

By the turnaround they'd gone five points clear. Larkin was establishing himself as the player in form, but behind him Peter Barry and Jackie Tyrrell ensured the defence worked cleanly too.

Young Irelands appeared to have run out of ideas. Early on they had two goal chances from Carey and Charlie Carter narrowly held out, but their possession always seemed inferior. Carter collected two of the better points from play, but, elsewhere, they were struggling.

It went further downhill with the start of the second half. Carter, to his credit, did his best to muscle in on some possession, but that wasn't having the desired effect. Larkin was now breaking loose for some wonderful scores, and he ended up with 0-11 in total - including seven perfectly accurate frees.

So, entering the final quarter, it seemed all was said and done. A Carey free and an Ollie Carter point proved brief interruptions to Larkin's scoring spree, and there's little doubt his presence will soon be felt on the senior panel. But at least the game got a wonderful climax.

In the end then they proved deserved, if a little nervous, winners. While Peter Barry collected the trophy for the first time in 23 years, only seventh time ever, Philly assessed the victory: "Well, I felt it we were the better team. In fairness, there's still no one better that DJ with the 21-yard frees, but I thought they were soft enough. So I'm delighted we held it, because we've waited a while for this one. And hopefully we'll get a good run in Leinster now."

First in their way are Meath champions Kilmessan - not that any team will fancy meeting James Stephens after this.

JAMES STEPHENS: F Cantwell; D Cody, M Phelan, D Grogan; P Larkin, P Barry (capt), J Tyrrell; P Butler, B McEvoy; E McCormack (0-3), E Larkin (0-11, seven frees), G Whelan (1-0); J Murphy (0-1), R Hayes, D McCormack (0-1). Subs: J Murray (1-0) for Murphy (52 mins).

YOUNG IRELANDS: M Carey; C Carroll, E Farrell, C Fitzgerald; S Byrne, T Drennan, D Phelan; J McDermott, J Fitzgerald (capt); T Carroll, O Carter (0-1), D Carroll (0-1); C Carter (0-2), DJ Carey (3-6, all frees, one penalty), D Carter (0-2). Subs: C Phelan for T Carroll (half-time).

Referee: D Connolly (Mooncoin).