Cats dethrone Dubs in Leinster SHC decider

Sun, 6th July 2014

KILKENNY 0-24 DUBLIN 1-9

Dublin's surrendered the Bob O'Keeffe Cup after going under to a dominant Kilkenny in Sunday's Leinster SHC final at Croke Park on Sunday. Twelve points separated the sides at its conclusion in a match that from a Dublin perspective was a far cry from last summer's provincial semi-final draw and replay.

While Kilkenny did not raise a green flag they did create chances but Dublin keeper Alan Nolan proved to be a very difficult man to beat with some excellent reflex saves.

Dublin trailed 0-13 to 1-6 at the interval, with Colm Cronin showing good pace for the 22nd minute goal, but could only muster three points in the second half as the Cats, who deployed Jackie Tyrrell to telling effect in the sweeper role, ruled the game.

Anthony Daly's men must regroup for the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final after the forward line failed to make inroads in this clash.

The briefly threatened in the second half but Johnny McCaffrey and Colm Cronin, following a clever reverse pass from Paul Ryan, were denied goals at a stage when Dublin really needed a shot to the system. TJ Reid was A1 from placed balls while in the middle of the field Dublin struggled to match they dynamism of Riche Hogan.

Points from Colin Fennelly and Pádraig Walsh (two) extended Kilkenny's lead on the restart as Brian Cody's men made the start that Dublin would have needed to gain a proper foothold.

As hard as Dublin tried with Danny Sutcliffe, returning form injury, and Conal Keaney below par from their usual excellence Kilkenny won the aerial exchanges as well as holding the upperhand in the 50/50 exchanges. As a contest the writing was on the wall for Dublin well before the finish as Kilkenny progressed to the last-four.

SCORERS – KILKENNY:

TJ Reid 0-10 (0-4f, 0-4 ‘65’), C Fennelly, H Shefflin 0-3 each, R Hogan (0-1f), P Walsh 0-2 each, B Hogan, W Walsh, J Power, A Fogarty 0-1 each. DUBLIN: C Cronin 1-1, A McCrabbe 0-3 (0-3f), C Keaney (0-1 pen), D Sutcliffe, D O’Callaghan, C McCormack, P Ryan 0-1 each.

KILKENNY:

D Herity; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; C Buckley, B Hogan, J Holden; R Hogan, C Fogarty; P Walsh, C Fennelly, TJ Reid; W Walsh, E Larkin, J Power. Subs: H Shefflin for W Walsh (56), A Fogarty for Power (59), L Ryan for Fogarty (69).

DUBLIN:

A Nolan; S Durkin, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J Boland, J McCaffrey; R O’Dwyer, D O’Callaghan, C Cronin; C Keaney, A McCrabbe, D Sutcliffe. Subs: C McCormack for O’Dwyer (29), N McMorrow for Boland (41), P Ryan for Sutcliffe (41), D Treacy for Keaney (50), N Corcoran for Schutte (61).