2026 Croke Cup
| Dates | 21 February - 17 March 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 6 | ||
| Sponsor | Masita | ||
| Champions | St Kieran's College (26th title) David Barcoe (captain) Brian Dowling (manager) | ||
| Runners-up | Presentation College Athenry Ronan Murphy (captain) Ronan McGlynn (captain) Michael Finn (manager) | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Matches played | 5 | ||
| Goals scored | 15 (3 per match) | ||
| Points scored | 160 (32 per match) | ||
| Top scorer(s) | Conor McEvoy (0-18) | ||
| |||
The 2026 All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Croke Cup was the 73rd staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 21 February to 17 March 2026.
Thurles CBS were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being beaten by St Joseph's CBS Nenagh in the semi-final of the Dr Harty Cup.[1][2][3]
The final was played on 17 March 2026 at Croke Park in Dublin, between St Kieran's College and Presentation College Athenry, in what was their fourth meeting in the final overall.[4] St Kieran's College won the match by 3–19 to 2–16 to claim their 26th Croke Cup title overall and a first title in tw0 years.[5][6]
Conor McEvoy was the top scorer with 0–18.
Qualification
| Province | Champions | Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connacht | Presentation College | St Raphael's College | [7] |
| Leinster | St Kieran's College | Kilkenny CBS | [8] |
| Munster | St Joseph's CBS Nenagh | St Flannan's College | [9] |
Results
Quarter-finals
| 21 February 2026 Quarter-final | St Flannan's College | 2-12 - 0-13 | Kilkenny CBS | Canon Hayes Park |
| J Barry 0-6 (5f, 1’65); T O’Connor 1-1; H Doherty 0-3 (2f); G Ball (1-0); D McNamara, E O’Connor (0-1 each) | Report | P Lacey 0-8 (6f); A Clifford, Z Scanlon, O O’Donovan, C Byrne, Joe Dowling 0-1 each |
| 21 February 2026 Quarter-final | St Kieran's College | 2-19 - 0-16 | St Raphael's College | St Michael's Park |
| F Mahony 1-5; C McEvoy 0-5 (all frees); G O’Shea 1-1; J Mullen 0-4; D Behan 0-3; E Cahill 0-1. | Report | J Shaughnessy 0-5 (all frees); E Mulleady 0-3; S Keane 0-3 (1f); E Coleman 0-3; K Connaire 0-1; T Mac Cárthaigh 0-1. |
Semi-finals
| 7 March 2026 Semi-final | Presentation College | 1-18 - 1-14 | St Flannan's College | Kilbeacanty Grounds |
| C Leen 0-10 (7f, 1’65, 1sl); C Hannon 1-1; R Cahalan 0-3; N McCarthy 0-2; A McDonagh, S Brady 0-1 each | Report | J Barry 0-7 (5f); H Doherty (1-3); G Ball, P Finneran, T O’Connor, J Cullinan 0-1 each |
| 7 March 2026 Semi-final | St Joseph's CBS Nenagh | 2-15 - 2-18 | St Kieran's College | Kelly O'Daly Park |
| E Doughan (0-8, 5 frees); E Tucker (1-2); J O’Dwyer (1-1); P Ryan ((0-2); P McCormack (free), C Healy (0-1 each) | Report | C McEvoy (0-9, 7 frees, 1 ’65); J Mullen (1-1); D Carroll (1-0); D Barcoe, G O’Shea (0-2 each); B Nevin, L Lawlor, D Behan, N Spellman (0-1 each). |
Final
| 17 March 2026 Final | Presentation College | 2-16 - 3-19 | St Kieran's College | Croke Park |
| C Leen (0-7, 3 frees, 1 65); R Cahalan (0-5); C Hannon, M Cloonan (1-0 each); A Poniard (0-3); I Leen (0-1). | Report | F Mahony (1-4); G O'Shea (1-3); D Carroll (1-1); C McEvoy (0-4, 1 65, 1 free); J Mullen (0-3, 1 free); B Nevin, C Holohan, B Hickey, D Barcoe (0-1 each). | Referee: T Walsh (Waterford) |
Statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conor McEvoy | St Kieran's College | 0-18 | 18 | 3 | 6.00 |
| 2 | Ciarán Leen | Presentation College | 0-17 | 17 | 2 | 8.50 |
| 3 | Fionn Mahony | St Kieran's College | 2-09 | 15 | 3 | 5.00 |
| 4 | John Barry | St Flannan's College | 0-13 | 13 | 2 | 6.50 |
| 5 | Gearóid O'Shea | St Kieran's College | 2-06 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 |
| 6 | Jake Mullen | St Kieran's College | 1-08 | 11 | 3 | 3.66 |
| 7 | Harry Doherty | St Flannan's College | 1-06 | 9 | 2 | 4.50 |
| 8 | Ronan Cahalan | Presentation College | 0-08 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Eoghan Doughan | St Joseph's CBS | 0-08 | 8 | 1 | 8.00 | |
| Patrick Lacey | Kilkenny CBS | 0-08 | 8 | 1 | 8.00 |
References
- ^ "Thurles CBS come back from the dead to beat Athenry in Croke Cup final". Irish Examiner. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Furlong, Brendan (15 April 2009). "Counsel close to causing upset". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Brophy, Shane (17 January 2026). "Harty Cup: Nenagh CBS topple reigning champions Thurles CBS in pulsating Tipp derby". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (17 March 2026). "Presentation Athenry aim for first Croke Cup title at sixth attempt". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Keane, Paul (17 March 2026). "St Kieran's College strike late on to claim Croke Cup honours and deny Athenry once more". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Mac Lochlainn, Rónán (17 March 2026). "St Kieran's Kilkenny plunder two late goals to see off Presentation Athenry for Croke Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Egan, Kevin (8 February 2026). "Ciarán Leen's shooting crucial to Presentation College's as Athenry school keeps hold of Connacht hurling title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Egan, Kevin (7 February 2026). "Leinster Schools titles for Coláiste Mhuire and St Kieran's". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (31 January 2026). "Tipperary dominance continues as Doughan leads Nenagh CBS to Harty Cup glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 January 2026.