Overcoming top-quality resistance from an accomplished Wesley side at Grange Road yesterday, Kilkenny College gave a boost to hockey in the south-east by carrying off the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup for the first time in 35 years.

Derek O'Gorman struck the only goal from a short corner in the 10th minute of a tightly fought final. Man-of-the-match O'Gorman, supported by Jamie Gahan, continued to force the pace in the first half but Alex Cuppage was particularly sturdy in manning the cover and Peter McConnell signalled a Wesley fightback with a surge after the interval from which he shot barely wide.

At the other end, though, John Blakeney was required to foil O'Gorman on the goal-line and Wendel Armstrong also prevented Mark Magnier from increasing the lead following a thrust by Gary Sharman. Back stormed Wesley, with Blakeney to the fore, in the closing stages. Patrick Hegarty marshalled his back four effectively but it took a good save from Shane Ellis to keep out a short-corner shot from McConnell and from another set piece on the final whistle, McConnell fired outside the target.

So much relieved, Kilkenny, after three failures in the finals of 1987, '92 and '97, added the senior trophy to the junior cup success which they achieved last year. The management team of Richard Willis, Ross Harding and Herbie Sharman no doubt will ensure that there will be further dividends for the community.

Kilkenny College: S Ellis; L Wilson, S Thompson, P Hegarty, E Bryan; E O'Mahony, D O'Gorman, J Gahan, H Kelly; M Magnier (capt), K White. Sub: G Sharman.

Wesley College: W Armstrong; D Wilkinson: A Macken, J Cuppage, A Walker; A Varian, J Blakeney, A Cuppage; D Roche, P McConnell (capt), A O'Kane. Sub: G McCoy.

Umpires: J O'Connor, M O'Brien.