St Peter’s College

It’s coming up on 11 years since Wexford’s Jacob brothers, Rory and Michael, scored the goals that dumped Kilkenny out of the 2004 Leinster championship. 

Leinster Post Primary S ‘A’ HC final

That was a result of seismic significance, for both counties, and gave Wexford the confidence to go on and claim their last provincial title at the grade.

Rory Jacob has reason to recall the occasion as he prepares another Wexford team for a similar David versus Goliath clash with Kilkenny’s finest today.

Jacob is in charge of the St Peter’s College team who are back in the Leinster colleges A final for the first time since, ironically, 2004.

And, if he’s honest, he realises his team are rated on about the same terms as that Wexford side he played on — no hopers.

You see while the Wexford town school have a rich tradition in the tournament as eight-time winners, they have a wretched record where Kieran’s are concerned.

Of the nine finals that St Peter’s have lost, eight of those have been to St Kieran’s.

“You could play the smart fella and say, ‘Ah, we’ll be lucky to keep it pucked out to them’.

“But, genuinely, if we’re able to compete with them and give a good account of ourselves that’ll be the first target.

“Kieran’s have it every way, all over the field they’re very strong. Liam Blanchfield was one of the top minors last year, Tommy Walsh was on that Kilkenny team, they’ve three or four subs who’d make most teams.

“That’s Kieran’s, isn’t it? They roll out these players.”

Whether or not Jacob is being coy about his team’s chances, we’ll know later today. Even the cynics can’t argue that the school’s strong dual status does little for their chances.

Many of the St Peter’s football players also play hurling and Jacob can’t understand why the two championships are run off at the same time.

“We didn’t want to see our footballers beaten early in the championship but the fact of the matter is it has helped our preparations,” said Jacob.

“We’re trying to play the two games at the top level but our lads just don’t do as much hurling as the Kieran’s fellas. It’s difficult enough but you can only do what you can do.”

Another Wexford side, Good Counsel, were crushed by Kieran’s in the provincial semi-final. If they’d won, aside from the novelty of an all Wexford final, Good Counsel would also have been dual provincial finalists.

“The hurling final is this weekend, the football final is next weekend, it’s crazy really for the teams who are strong in both,” said Jacob. “It only really affects three teams; ourselves, Good Counsel and Coláiste Eoin in Dublin.

As for himself, Jacob, 31, is currently recovering from groin surgery. But the evergreen forward had good news for Wexford fans when he confirmed he intends returning to action this year.

“I’ll hopefully be back in another three or four weeks,” he said. “Playing hurling has been my life for a long time and it still is. It’s what I want to do.”