2018 Croke Cup

{{short description|Irish hurling competition}}

{{Infobox hurling championship

|name=2018 Croke Cup

|image=

|imagesize=

|caption=

|dates= 10–31 March 2018

|teams=6

|sponsor= Masita

|champions= File:Colours of Sligo.svg St Kieran's College

|count= 22

|champions captain= Daithí Barron

|champions manager= Tom Hogan

|runners-up= File:Colours of Galway.svg Presentation College

|runners-up captain= Conor Walsh

|runners-up manager= Mike Finn

|promoted=

|relegated=

|matches= 5

|goals= 17

|points= 131

|top scorer= File:Maroon Gold GAA Flag.png Conor Drennan (0-20)

|previous year=2017

|previous tournament=2017 Croke Cup

|next year=2019

|next tournament=2019 Croke Cup

}}

The 2018 All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Croke Cup was the 67th staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 10 to 31 March 2018.

Our Lady's Secondary School were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Midleton CBS in the semi-final of the Harty Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20446177.html|title=Our Lady's Templemore take home Croke Cup with narrow win over St Kieran's College|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=25 March 2017|access-date=26 June 2023|first=Eoin|last=Cormican}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30825129.html|title=Midleton CBS beat Our Lady’s Templemore in Harty Cup Semi-Final|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=27 January 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=Conor|last=Kane}} Dublin North were the Leinster Championship winners, however, as an amalgamated team they were debarred from the provincial stage onwards.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-north-leinster-hurling-st-kierans-3866176-Feb2018/|title=Dublin North lift first Leinster senior hurling crown with win over Kilkenny's St Kieran's|publisher=The 42|date=22 February 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}} Their place in the All-Ireland series was taken by Kilkenny CBS, who qualified after beating Good Counsel College in a playoff.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-cbs-leinster-schools-hurling-3864061-Feb2018/|title=Kilkenny CBS qualify for All-Ireland series as Mayo and Sligo schools reach Connacht decider|publisher=The 42|date=21 February 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}}

The final was played on 31 March 2018 at Semple Stadium in Thurles, between St Kieran's College and Presentation College, Athenry, in what was their first ever meeting in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/st-kierans-kilkenny-ardscoil-ris-3916501-Mar2018/|title=Kilkenny's St Kieran's back in All-Ireland final as Harty Cup champs Ardscoil Rís fall short by two points|publisher=The 42|date=21 March 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}} St Kieran's College won the match by 5–19 to 3–17 to claim their 22nd Croke Cup title overall and a first title in two years.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30835187.html|title=Despite losing a 10-point lead, St Kieran's claim 22nd Croke cup title|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=31 March 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=Conor|last=Kane}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/hogan-praises-kierans-heroes-as-they-regroup-to-take-crown/36765147.html|title=Hogan praises Kieran's heroes as they regroup to take crown|publisher=Irish Independent|date=2 April 2018|access-date=26 June 2023|first=|last=}}

Conor Drennan was the top scorer with 0-20.