2018 Croke Cup

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

Dates	10–31 March 2018
Teams	6
Sponsor	Masita
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 played	5
Goals scored	17 (3.4 per match)
Points scored	131 (26.2 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Conor Drennan (0-20)
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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

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

Quarter-finals

Kilkenny CBS v Midleton CBS

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).

St Kieran's College v Gort Community School

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

Presentation College, Athenry v Kilkenny CBS

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)

St Kieran's College v Ardscoil Rís

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

St Kieran's College v Presentation College, Athenry

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

Top scorers

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

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.