Dublin minor hurlers: Road to Leinster MHC final

Dublin's minor hurlers face reigning provincial holders Kilkenny in the Leinster MHC final this Saturday in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise (3.0).

The Dubs are chasing the title for the 16th time and were last Leinster champions in 2016 when current senior hurler Paddy Smyth captained them to victory.

The Cats lead the way in the province with 57 Leinster MHC titles.

Here we look back on Dublin's journey to this year's Leinster MHC final.

LEINSTER MHC SEMI-FINAL

DUBLIN 1-22 WEXFORD 3-13

Dublin's minor hurlers came with a storming last quarter to defeat Wexford in their Leinster MHC semi-final at Innovate Wexford Park.

The Slaneysiders started the second half the better and having trailed 0-13 to 1-8 at the interval had moved into a 2-13 to 1-14 lead with 15 minutes remaining, despite the influential Luke Swan hitting a goal for the Dubs immediately on the restart.

Thereafter Wexford got great impact from the second-half subs with Darragh Furlong hitting three points and Josh SheIl grabbing a goal to go two points clear.

However, Dublin showed great mettle to take control with points from Liam Dunne (free) and Dara Purcell, his third of the afternoon, bringing the sides level entering the concluding ten minutes.

Two Dunne frees and an excellent point from Alex O'Neill gave the Dubs a three-point cushion, 1-19 to 2-13, and they continued to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Dunne added another free, after a foul on Luke Swan, and Purcell pointed to make it 1-21 to 2-13 before Dunne converted a '65' as the game moved into added time.

The hosts got a late goal, a free from keeper Darragh Hayes, but it wasn't enough to stop Mike Connolly's men progressing to a Leinster MHC final meeting with Kilkenny, who defeated Offaly in their provincial semi-final.

Dublin led 0-13 to 1-8 at the half-time break after Richie Lawlor had given the Slaneysiders a great fillip with a goal just before the interval.

Wexford made a great start and were 0-4 to 0-0 ahead inside six minutes with freetaker AJ Redmond on the mark on three occasions.

SCORERS - Dublin: L Dunne 0-11 (0-7f, 0-2 ’65’), D Purcell 0-4, L Swan 1-0, D Leavy 0-2, A O’Neill, D Power, C Murray, P Christie, C Foley 0-1 each. Wexford: AJ Redmond 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 sideline), R Lawlor, J Sheil, D Hayes (0-1f) 1-0 each, D Furlong 0-3, T Murphy, O Whitty, Z Firman 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: J Lambert; F Murphy, E Carney, K Byrne; C Hogan, A O’Neill, I O’hEithir; D Leavy, D Power; C Murray, P Christie, C Foley; L Dunne, L Swan, D Purcell. Subs: S Fenton for Murray (42), A O’Toole for Christie (53).

WEXFORD: D Hayes; F Roche, R Scallan, N Rowesome; C Brown, D Codd, E Doyle; C Molloy, J Kirwan; O Whitty, T Murphy, R Lawlor; AJ Redmond, Z Firman, D Cantwell. Subs: D Furlong for O Whitty (ht), J Kehoe for Kirwan (ht), J Sheil for Cantwell (43), P O’Connor for Brown (48), P Whitty for Furlong (58).

REF: J O’Brien (Laois).

LEINSTER MHC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 3-16 ANTRIM 0-4

Dublin minor hurlers made it three wins on the bounce with this comfortable Leinster MHC quarter-final victory over Antrim in Dowdallshill, Louth.

The Dubs led 2-3 to 0-3 at the break but put in an impressive scoring display of 1-13 to 0-1 in the second period to run out 21-point victors and book their berth in a provincial semi-final.

Dara Purcell and Luke Swan hit the first half goals with early second half sub Seamus Fenton making a positive impact in the second half.

Swan gave his side the ideal start when he reacted well to deflect a long delivery from Liam Dunne to the Antrim net in the opening minute.

Thirteen minutes in Purcell showed his eye for goal with a good finish.

With wind advantage in the second half Dublin moved out of sight with. However, they also had to thank keeper Jack Lambert for a penalty save just two minutes into the second half when denying Ryan Hill.

Sub Fenton raised a green flag in the 44th minute on his way to a personal tally of 1-3 from play as seven different scorers got on the scoresheet for Mike Connolly's side.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Purcell 1-4 (0-2f), S Fenton 1-3, L Swan 1-2, P Christie 0-3, L Dunne 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘65’), A O’Neill (0-1f), B McSweeney 0-1 each. Antrim: R Hill 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Bohill 0-1.

DUBLIN: J Lambert; K Byrne, E Carney, F Murphy; C Hogan, A O’Neill, I O hEithir; D Leavy, D Power; P Christie, C Foley, C Murray; L Dunne, L Swan, D Purcell. Subs: S Fenton for Dunne (34), B McSweeney for Leavy (41), J Murray for Lambert (46), S Foran for Power (48), D Breslin for Swan (50).

ANTRIM: K McAuley; D Stevenson, A Gallagher, C Hargan; C Donnelly, D McCloskey, C McKernan; C O’Connor, N O’Connor; J McAllister, R McAleer, C Bohill; E McGrath, R Hill, D Murphy. Subs: C Crossan for McGrath (17), R McFarlane for N O’Connor (26), S O’Boyle for C O’Connor (36), C McQuillan for Hargan (48), G McIlhatton for McAleer (48).

REF: R Fitzsimons (Offaly).

LEINSTER MHC TIER 1 ROUND 3

DUBLIN 0-16 WEXFORD 1-10

Dublin minor hurlers recorded their second win of the Leinster MHC Tier 1 round-robin section when adding the scalp of Wexford to that of Laois following their opening day defeat to Kilkenny.

Donal Leavy was Dublin's scorer-in-chief from play as the midfielder amassed an impressive four points in Dublin's concluding round-robin game at Parnell Park.

Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford and Laois were all already guaranteed provincial quarter-final berth in this year's new format for the U17 grade.

The Dubs probably should have had more to spare on Sunday against the Slaneysiders but finished with 13 men and conceded a late AJ Redmond goal.

After a slow start in very difficult conditions Dublin led 0-9 to 0-6 at the half-time interval.

Wexford enjoyed an early three-point advantage before Dublin got moving in the right direction.

Leavy ignited his side with two points before Seamus Fenton converted a free. Fenton added another point and with Darragh Power also getting on the scoresheet Mike Connolly's lad were three up at the break, 0-9 to 0-6.

Dublin were guilty of some wasteful shooting in the second half but importantly Ciarán Foley was twice on the mark to keep his side on top.

Wexford’s Thomas Murphy was dismissed in the 44th minute but Dublin lost corner-back Adam Waddick three minutes later and ended the match with 13 after a second booking for Ciarán Hogan.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Leavy 0-4, S Fenton 0-3 (0-1f), C Foley, S Foran 0-2 each, C Hogan, A O’Neill (0-1 ‘65’), D Power, D McLoughney, A O’Toole 0-1 each. Wexford: AJ Redmond 1-4 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Molloy (0-2f), J Kehoe (0-2f) 0-2 each, T Murphy, Z Firman 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: J Lambert; A Waddick, E Carney, F Murphy; C Hogan, A O’Neill, I Ó hEithir; D Leavy, D Power; D McLoughney, C Foley, C Murray; S Fenton, L Swan, A O’Toole. Subs: S Foran for Power (52), D Breslin for O’Toole (55), P Christie for Swan (57).

WEXFORD: D Hayes; F Roche, R Scallan, N Rowesome; E Doyle, D Codd, J Kirwan; C Molloy, D O’Neill; O Whitty, T Murphy, J Kehoe; R Lawlor, Z Firman, D Cantwell. Subs: AJ Redmond for O’Neill (ht), P Whitty for O Whitty (45), P O’Connor for Kehoe (52), S Walsh for Kirwan (56).

REF: A Devine (Westmeath).

LEINSTER MHC TIER 1 ROUND 2

DUBLIN 2-21 LAOIS 0-7

Dublin's minor hurlers bounced back in style from their opening day defeat when cruising to a 20-point victory in this Electric Ireland Leinster MHC Tier 1 clash at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

The Dubs were beaten by a highly-rated Kilkenny in their round-robin opener in Parnell Park in a tight, well-contested battle but this encounter was heading Dublin's way following a scoring flurry midway through the opening half.

Top-scorer Liam Dunne, with two early frees in his tally of 1-10 (0-9f), opened Dublin's scoring but the next three were all from the stick of Laois' Adam Kirwan who converted three frees. Indeed Kirwan was the home side's only scorer throughout with all his seven scores coming from frees.

A Luke Swan point for Dublin ignited a dominant spell for Mike Connolly's lads and when Kilmacud Crokes' Dara Purcell goaled in the 24th minute the Dubs moved 1-9 to 0-4 clear and were on the road to victory.

Laois concluded the scoring in the opening half, Kirwan's fifth free, but Dublin regained their superiority in the second half to eventually run out comprehensive winners.

Dublin's second goal arrived with ten minutes remaining when Raheny's Liam Dunne found the net with a stylish finish to make it 2-15 to 0-6.

Dublin closed out the game with two close range Dunne frees, and points from sub Seán Foran, Luke Swan and Conor Murray while Kirwan converted his seventh free in the last minute of play.

SCORERS – Dublin: L Dunne 1-10 (0-9f), D Purcell 1-2, C Murray 0-3, L Swan 0-2, A O’Toole, P Christie, C Foley, S Fenton 0-1 each. Laois: A Kirwan 0-7 (0-7f).

DUBLIN: J Lambert; K Byrne, C Hogan, T Cullen; E Carney, A O’Neill, I Ó hEithir; D Leavy, D Power; C Murray, P Christie, C Foley; L Dunne, L Swan, D Purcell. Subs: A O’Toole for Christie (41), F Murphy for Byrne (43), C Walsh for Cullen (46), F Ryan for Leavy (50), S Fenton for Purcell (54).

LAOIS: L Fitzpatrick, B Shore, D Brennan, G O’Neill; K Kelly, C Cosgrove, T Fitzpatrick; F Mahoney, T Cuddy; C Byrne, A Connolly, E Hawkes; M Hennessy, C O’Shaughnessy, A Kirwan. Subs: N Carey for Kelly (ht), DJ O’Callaghan for Hawkes (ht), F Holland for Shore (52), S Farrell for Byrne (55).

REF: R Fitzsimons (Offaly).

LEINSTER MHC TIER 1 ROUND 1

KILKENNY 3-23 DUBLIN 4-12

A late scoring flurry from Kilkenny saw them take the honours in this Leinster MHC round-robin clash at Parnell Park.

Luke Swan hit a hat-trick of goals for the Dubs but it wasn’t enough as the Cats through Conor Kelly, who finished with a tally of 0-14 (12f), scored a goal and five points down the straight to run out victors.

Swan gave Dublin a great start with an early goal but Kilkenny battled back and a Cathal O’Leary goal for the visitors moved them in front by the midpoint of the opening half.

By the break Kilkenny were 2-10 to 2-7 in front after Swan had added a second goal for the Dubs with George Murphy tagging on Kilkenny’s second three-pointer.

With five minutes remaining Dublin goals from Liam Dunne and Swan left the game evenly balance, 4-12 to 2-15.

However, a superb Ciarán Brennan goal ignited Kilkenny’s late scoring flurry with the clinical Kelly hitting five unanswered points in-a-row to seal victory.

SCORERS - Kilkenny: C Kelly 0-14 (0-12f), C Brennan 1-3 (0-1f), G Murphy 1-2, C O’Leary 1-1, J Morrissey 0-2, C Kenny 0-1. Dublin: L Swan 3-1, L Dunne 1-7 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65’), D Purcell 0-2, A O’Neill, P Christie 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: J Brennan; P Dempsey, J Young, J Harkin; S Staunton, P Moylan, H Walsh; C Kenny, C Kelly; D Maher, C Brennan, J Morrissey; C O’Leary, G Murphy, K Hogan. Sub: E Guilfoyle for Hogan (46).

DUBLIN: J Lambert; K Byrne, C Hogan, T Cullen; E Carney, A O’Neill, I O hEithir; D Leavy, D Power; D McLoughney, P Christie, C Foley; L Dunne, L Swan, D Purcell. Subs: F Murphy for Cullen (ht), C Murray for McLoughney (36), A O’Toole for Foley (44), S Fenton for Purcell (57).

REF: B Redmond (Wexford).