Ardscoil Rís take on St Kierans in Croke Cup Semi Final

Ardscoil Ris take on St Kierans this Wedneaday at 2pm in Clonmel in the Croke Cup semi final. After being crowned Harty Cup champions for the 5th time last month, the Limerick school are chasing a maiden All Ireland triumph.

Facing them are St Kierans of Kilkenny who have bested Ardscoil in three previous finals (2010, 11′ and 16′) and will be looking to reach a fifth consecutive final having won three in a row between 2014 and 16′.

However unlike previous years, they do not come into the game as Leinster champions after they were beaten by Dublin Colleges in the final, who are unable to represent the province in the All Ireland series as they are an amalgamated side.

Ardscoil come into the game after a highly convincing Munster campaign that saw them will all their group and knockout games. They were particularly impressive in the dispatching of a fancied Midleton CBS team in the final in Mallow.

A number of the panel were involved in the 2016 decider with captain Ronan Conolly, Paul O’Brien, Jerome Boylan, Rory Duff and Rian Considine all featuring on the panel in a game where Ardscoil were defeated by 2 points.

For Ardscoil’s Jerome Boylan it’s a case of an semi final wedged between two All Ireland final clashes. Last Saturday he played the full 80 minutes against Cuala for Na Piarsaigh and will hope to finish the job this time around on Saturday. Two years ago, Peter Casey found himself in a similar predicament, coming out on top in both games.

The winners of Wednesday’s clash will go on the face Presentation College Athenry who have reached a first final since 1976.