Cats stun Dubs with late, late winning goal in U21HC

KILKENNY 4-12 DUBLIN 2-16

Kilkenny snatched victory in the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC quarter-final in the most dramatic fashion at Parnell Park on Tuesday night.

With the Dubs hanging on with great determination to a one-point lead in the final moments Mark Mansfield struck the winning goal for the Cats in the final minute of normal time to stun Joe Fortune's Dublin side.

It looked like it was an attempted point effort on the run by the midfielder but his effort dropped into the net, perhaps the low sun fooling Seán Brennan in the Dublin goal.

The game exploded to life at the three-quarter mark with drama at both ends.

In the 41^st minute Dublin keeper Seán Brennan pulled off a super save to deny Liam Hickey.

Two minutes later, Cian Boland who enjoyed an outstanding second half, found the back of the Kilkenny net following pure persistence by Colm Cronin created the opening to put Dublin 2-12 to 1-9 clear.

Their six-point lead was immediately halved when James Maher raised a green flag.

Boland extened Dublin’s lead, after linking up yet again with Cronin.

In the 45^th minute Fiontán McGibb was fouled for a penalty but Dublin keeper Seán Brennan’s drive was saved by his Kilkenny counterpart Darren Brennan, McGibb though flicked the rebound over for a point.

Ciarán Ryan's 53rd minute goal for Kilkenny cut the deficit to, 2-14 to 3-10, but points form Cian Boland and Oisín O'Rorke put wind in Dublin's sails again.

The second half had opened with two Kilkenny points to draw level , 1-8 each after 33 minutes.

After an entertaining opening half Dublin led 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

Neither side showed any first night nerves as they settled into the task at hand, the Dubs enjoying the advantage of the wind.

The impressive Seán Treacy pointed before the Cuala man struck for goal in the fifth minute when Fiontán McGibb showed good awareness and timing to off-load for Treacy to crash to the net.

Conor Martin replied with a free before Treacy split the posts with an excellent point.

Some superb defending by James Madden kept the Dublin goal intact when he hooked Chris Bolger in the act of shooting for goal.

However, Bolger was not to be denied in the 11^th minute when he fetched the sliotar powerfully before setting off successfully for goal to make it 1-3 to 1-1.

Treacy added two points – the first a free, the second a great strike after showing great determination to win possession and AJ Murphy’s stunning sideline made it 1-6 to 1-1 after 15 minutes.

The Cats rallied with points from Martin (free) and Liam Blanchfield.

Oisín O’Rorke broke that chain of scores with a point following good graft by Colm Cronin.

But it was the Cats who finished the half on the up with points from Willie Brennan and Martin (free) after Paul Winters had fired over for the Dubs in the 23^rd minute.

SCORERS - Kilkenny: J Maher, M Mansfield 1-2 each, C Bolger 1-1, C Martin 0-4 (0-4f), C Ryan 1-0, L Hickey (0-1f), L Blanchfield, W Brennan 0-1 each. Dublin: C Boland, S Treacy (0-1f) 1-3 each, P Winters 0-5 (0-2f), F McGibb, O O’Rorke 0-2 each, AJ Murphy (0-1 sideline) 0-1.

KILKENNY: D Brennan; C Delaney, C Wallace, E Cody; J Cleere, D Cody, P Deegan; C Ryan, M Mansfield; C Ryan, W Brennan, L Blanchfield; L Hickey, C Martin, C Bolger. Subs: L Scanlon for Martin (44), E Morrissey for D Cody (46), T Phelan for Blanchfield (55),

DUBLIN: S Brennan; J Madden, C O’Callaghan, S McClelland; E O’Donnell, S Barrett, C Mac Gabhann; J Malone, P Winters; C Cronin, F McGibb, C Boland; O’Rorke, S Treacy, AJ Murphy. Subs: R Murphy for Mac Gabhann (33), E McLaughlin for O’Donnell (36), C O’Neill for AJ Murphy (43), F O Riain Broin for Treacy (51).

REF: M Murtagh (Westmeath).