St Kieran's fly the Kilkenny soccer flag

ST KIERAN'S College, Kilkenny will fly the flag for the local game today, Wednesday, when they meet Salesian College, Celbridge in the Leinster Final of the Schools' Soccer Senior Cup at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore. The game kicks off at 1pm. The match was originally fixed for Newbridge.

The Saints will attempt to emulate the achievements of the junior soccer team that last season won the All- Ireland Schools' Soccer final for the first time. 

St Kieran's will be attempting to win the competition for the first time since their 1993 victory over St Joseph's, Fairview  and hopes are high that the Kilkenny boys will return with the senior cup this season.

In 1997 the college contested their second senior final, drawing 1-1 with Drimnagh Castle in Buckley Park, thanks to a Henry Shefflin equaliser. However the Dublin team won the replay at Tolka Park.

With seven of the victorious junior side from last year on the starting eleven, the college semi-final victory over Drimnagh Castle was without doubt their best performance to date. The college boys seem to be hitting form at the right time.

Two goals from Darragh Walsh and one each from Mikey Drennan and Ciaran Snype gave the Kilkenny side a comfortable 4-1 victory over the hotly fancied Dubs. 

The recent spate of injuries which saw St Kieran's lose influential players like John Power, Gary Corcoran, Jason Quan and Declan McQuillan seems to have been overcome, posing a welcome selection problems for managers Don O'Connor and Paul Fitzgerald.

In recent weeks the defence has been rock-solid, with goalkeeper Craig Cummins in splendid form. So whatever 11 take to the field against Celbridge, there will be sufficient strength in depth on the bench to ensure that the St Kieran's College side will provide formidable opposition. 

St Kieran's Panel :  Eoin Delahunty (captain), Craig Cummins, Sam Johnson, Andrew Cantwell, Luke Hickey, Eoghan Connolly, Cillian Phelan, Conor Gorey, Mikey Drennan, Ciaran Snype, Kevin Ireland, Kevin Duncan, Robbie Hayes, Declan McQuillan, Daragh Walsh, Jason Quan, John Power, David Cummins, Gary Corcoran, Steven Chappell.