The 2018 All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Croke Cup was the 67th staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 10 to 31 March 2018.

2018 Croke Cup
Dates10–31 March 2018
Teams6
SponsorMasita
Champions St Kieran's College (22nd title)
Daithí Barron (captain)
Tom Hogan (manager)
Runners-up Presentation College
Conor Walsh (captain)
Mike Finn (manager)
Tournament statistics
Matches played5
Goals scored17 (3.4 per match)
Points scored131 (26.2 per match)
Top scorer(s) Conor Drennan (0-20)
2017 (Previous) (Next) 2019

Our Lady's Secondary School were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Midleton CBS in the semi-final of the Harty Cup.[1][2] Dublin North were the Leinster Championship winners, however, as an amalgamated team they were debarred from the provincial stage onwards.[3] Their place in the All-Ireland series was taken by Kilkenny CBS, who qualified after beating Good Counsel College in a playoff.[4]

The final was played on 31 March 2018 at Semple Stadium in Thurles, between St Kieran's College and Presentation College, Athenry, in what was their first ever meeting in the final.[5] St Kieran's College won the match by 5–19 to 3–17 to claim their 22nd Croke Cup title overall and a first title in two years.[6][7]

Conor Drennan was the top scorer with 0-20.

Qualification

edit
Province Team 1 Team 2
Connacht Presentation College Gort Community School [8]
Leinster St Kieran's College Kilkenny CBS
Munster Ardscoil Rís Midleton CBS [9]

Results

edit

Quarter-finals

edit
10 March 2018 Quarter-final Kilkenny CBS 0-16 - 2-09 Midleton CBS Clonmel Sportsground
C Drennan (0-13, 0-10 frees); C Heary, S Boyd, L Hogan (0-1 each). Report L Gosnell (1-3, 0-2 frees); L O’Shea (1-1, frees); S O’Leary-Hayes (0-2); J Landers, G Millerick, K Farmer (0-1 each).
10 March 2018 Quarter-final St Kieran's College 1-10 - 0-05 Gort Community School Woodmount Grounds
D O'Carroll 1-1, C Brennan 0-3, E Cody 0-3, A Mullen 0-1, E O'Shea 0-1, E Moylan 0-1. E Egan 0-3, P Commins 0-2. Referee: A Devine (Westmeath)

Semi-finals

edit
19 March 2018 Semi-final Presentation College, Athenry 4-10 - 2-12 Kilkenny CBS Ferbane Grounds
E Caulfield 2-0, M Kennedy 1-3 (0-2f), A Brett 1-0, C Walsh 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65), C Lawless 0-2, E O’Donnell 0-1, K Conneely 0-1. Report C Drennan 0-7 (0-3f), J Ryan 1-2, L Hogan 1-0, S Boyd 0-2, C Heary 0-1. Referee: A Devine (Westmeath)
21 March 2018 Semi-final St Kieran's College 0-19 - 0-14 Ardscoil Rís Clonmel Sportsground
A Mullen 0-6 (0-4f, 0-2 ’65), C Kelly 0-5 (0-3f), E O’Shea 0-3, D Barron, C Kelly (0-1f), D O’Carroll, C Brennan, E Cody (0-1 sideline cut). Report P O’Brien 0-7 (0-5f, 0-2 ‘65), D Ryan 0-3, R Considine 1-0, C O’Neill 0-2, A Moriarty, R Duff 0-1 each. Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)

Final

edit
31 March 2018 Final St Kieran's College 5-19 - 3-17
(aet)
Presentation College, Athenry Semple Stadium
C Brennan 2-1, A Mullen 0-7 (2F), C Kelly 0-7 (1F, 1 ‘65’), D Barron 1-2, D O’Carroll 1-0, J Young 1-0, E O’Shea 0-1, I Walsh 0-1 Report M Kennedy 1-9 (6F, 2 ‘65’), A Brett 2-1, TJ Brennan 0-3, C Lawless 0-1, E Caulfield 0-1, C Walsh 0-1, McGlynn 0-1 (F) Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)

Statistics

edit

Top scorers

edit
Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Conor Drennan Kilkenny CBS 0-20 20 2 10.00
2 Mark Kennedy Presentation College 2-12 18 2 9.00
3 Adrian Mullen St Kieran's College 0-14 14 3 4.66
4 Conor Kelly St Kieran's College 0-12 12 2 6.00
5 Ciarán Brennan St Kieran's College 2-05 11 3 3.66
Single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition
1 Conor Drennan Kilkenny CBS 0-13 13 Midleton CBS
2 Mark Kennedy Presentation College 1-09 12 St Kieran's College
3 Ciarán Brennan St Kieran's College 2-01 7 Presentation College
Adam Brett Presentation College 2-01 7 St Kieran's College
Adrian Mullen St Kieran's College 0-07 7 Presentation College
Conor Kelly St Kieran's College 0-07 7 Presentation College
Conor Drennan Kilkenny CBS 0-07 7 Presentation College
Paul O'Brien Ardscoil Rís 0-07 7 St Kieran's College
9 Eoin Caulfield Presentation College 2-01 7 Kilkenny CBS
Mark Kennedy Presentation College 1-03 6 Kilkenny CBS
Liam Gosnell Midleton CBS 1-03 6 Kilkenny CBS
Adrian Mullen St Kieran's College 0-06 6 Ardscoil Rís

References

edit
  1. ^ Cormican, Eoin (25 March 2017). "Our Lady's Templemore take home Croke Cup with narrow win over St Kieran's College". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  2. ^ Kane, Conor (27 January 2018). "Midleton CBS beat Our Lady's Templemore in Harty Cup Semi-Final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Dublin North lift first Leinster senior hurling crown with win over Kilkenny's St Kieran's". The 42. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Kilkenny CBS qualify for All-Ireland series as Mayo and Sligo schools reach Connacht decider". The 42. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Kilkenny's St Kieran's back in All-Ireland final as Harty Cup champs Ardscoil Rís fall short by two points". The 42. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ Kane, Conor (31 March 2018). "Despite losing a 10-point lead, St Kieran's claim 22nd Croke cup title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Hogan praises Kieran's heroes as they regroup to take crown". Irish Independent. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Great win for Presentation College Athenry in Connacht A Hurling Final". Athenry GAA website. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (17 February 2018). "Ardscoil Rís extend Cork's wait for Harty Cup success". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 February 2022.