Colleges GAA/All-Ireland hurling and football finals: If the students of Knockbeg manage to win their first All-Ireland football title they'll be in danger of suffering an identity crisis.

While everyone will be calling it a great victory for Carlow, most of the team will head home to celebrate in Laois.

That's just part of the novelty surrounding Monday's Hogan Cup final (1pm), that starts the triple-header in Semple Stadium, Thurles. St Mary's of Galway are also looking to win their first title.

Knockbeg coach Chris Conway is a little more certain about where he's from. Now teaching at his alma mater for the past five years, Conway has also been a regular face in the Laois forward line - the county he believes has the greater claim on the Knockbeg success story.

"I don't usually like to get into that," jokes Conway, "because I usually end up upsetting someone. Let's just say historically we're a Carlow school but geographically we're a Laois school. But I know the players don't make any issue of it. They all have a great sense of identity with the school, and are proud just to wear the school colours."

While strictly speaking Knockbeg does lie in Carlow territory, 10 of the starting 15 next Monday will come from Laois, with only two from Carlow, and one each from Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow. Their star player, Donie Brennan, is part of the Laois senior panel, and Conway's younger brother David is also set to start in Thurles.

"There is a rich GAA history to the school," explains Conway. "They've won four Leinster titles in the past, including the first ever such title way back in 1920. I know they also won the senior football and hurling double back in 1955. But there wasn't much success during the 1980s when there would only have been around 100 students. That's grown now to around 330. And when we won the senior B title in 2003 that took us back to senior level for the first time in 20 years."

St Patrick's, Navan, beat them last year en route to taking the All-Ireland title, but Knockbeg gained revenge by beating them in the quarter-final this year: "I really feel the team has been improving all year. We always knew we had the forward power, so it was just a case of developing the backs. Since we've done that I think we're a very settled and balanced team. So far we've always been short one or two players, now we're at full strength for the first time. We've at least 20 very strong players to pick from."

Conway has been extra busy this term trying to combine his coaching and own playing duties, but he says he wouldn't like it any other way.