ALL-IRELAND COLLEGES SH 'A' FINAL:KILKENNY CBS against Nenagh CBS in Saturday's All-Ireland Colleges hurling final might not seem immediately unusual, but it is, and for several reasons.

Nenagh CBS have never actually been in the final before, nor indeed won a Munster Dr Harty Cup title; and Kilkenny CBS have only won the title once before, and that was back in 1981.

But it is how they actually got to Saturday’s final in Thurles which makes their pairing more unusual: Nenagh may have lost the Munster final to Waterford Colleges, having caused some considerable upsets to get that far, but bounced back in great style by beating reigning All-Ireland champions St Kieran’s of Kilkenny, who had actually disposed of Kilkenny CBS in this year’s Leinster final.

Kilkenny CBS recovered in similar style, beating Waterford Colleges in the quarter-final, and then Connacht champions Portumna CBS in the semi-final.

Nenagh have made long strides this season under manager Donagh O’Donnell, the Limerick senior hurling trainer: they required a replay to beat both Thurles CBS (the 2009 Munster champions) and Ardscoil Rís (the 2010 and 2011 champions) before losing out to Waterford Colleges, but all that was ultimately forgotten after the win over St Kieran’s, with former Tipperary minor star Jason Forde rattling over 14 points, including 12 frees.

“We sat down after the Harty Cup and talked about how we never performed that day,” reflected O’Donnell afterwards, “and with the courage and the commitment that they have, they shouldn’t let this opportunity slip. They refocused, got themselves back on the horse, and they’re now in an All-Ireland final.”

The only disappointment for Nenagh supporters is the original curtain-raiser was set to involve Nenagh Vocational Schools, but their semi-final against St Fergal’s, Rathdowney, is set for a replay after last weekend’s early termination when St Fergal’s player Shane Cleere sustained serious injury.