St Lachtain’s scored a convincing victory over St Gall’s to lift the All-Ireland IHC title at Croke Park.
John Fitzpatrick (two) and Ollie O’Connor hit the goals that sent the Kilkenny men on their way.
The Leinster champions were on top throughout the first half, easing ahead with scores from Eoin Guinan and Noel Hickey.
CJ McGourty scored all but one of the Ulster side’s first half total from frees, and they fell further behind when Ollie O’Connor grabbed a stoppage time goal for a 1-10 to 0-6 interval lead.
Guinan and Robbie Dowling added quality points and this decider was over as a contest when John Fitzpatrick slalomed through for his first goal on 46 minutes, and banged in his second from close range 10 minutes from the end.
St Lachtain’s scorers: J Fitzpatrick 2-1, O O’Connor 1-1, E Guinan 0-6 (3f), R Dowling, N Hickey, B Beckett 0-2 each, D Brennan, N McGree, N Hickey 0-1 each.
St Gall’s scorers: CJ McGourty 0-7 (7f), J Flynn, A Gallagher, K Stewart (f) 0-1 each.
St Gall’s: C Austin, D Sheehan, T Austin, S Morrison, J McDaniel, K McGourty, A Healy, J Flynn, K Stewart, S Burke, K McDonald, C Gallagher, C McGourty, A Gallagher, S McAreavey.
Subs: S O’Hara for Gallagher, C O’Grady for Burke, A Hannaway for McDonald, E Cooke for Sheehan, A Gough for CJ McGourty.
St Lachtain’s: T Delaney, M McCormack, M Kavanagh, G Dalton, S Hayes, J Costelloe, N Phelan, N McGree, N Hickey, J Fitzpatrick, D Brennan, R Dowling, O O’Connor, B Beckett, E Guinan.
Subs: B Kennedy for Fitzpatrick, P Guinan for O’Connor.
Referee: D Copps (Cork).
