Flashback: Dublin v Kilkenny SHC clashes

Dublin and Kilkenny senior hurlers have crossed paths regularly in recent summers and will do so again this Saturday night in their Leinster SHC round-robin encounter in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny (7.0).

They most recently collided in last year's SHC round-robin in Parnell Park when the Cats edged out the Dubs in a dramatic finish.

Dublin's last summer victory over Kilkenny came in the 2013 Leinster SHC semi-final replay.

Here we look back on both those thrilling encounters of 2013 and 2018.

DUBLIN v KILKENNY: LAST FIVE SHC CLASHES

2018: Kilkenny 1-24 Dublin 3-16 (Leinster round robin)

2016: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-16 (Leinster semi-final)

2014: Kilkenny 0-24 Dublin 1-9 (Leinster final)

2013: Dublin 1-16 Kilkenny 0-16 (Leinster semi-final replay)

2013: Kilkenny 1-14 Dublin 0-17 (Leinster semi-final)

2018 LEINSTER SHC ROUND-ROBIN

SUNDAY, MAY13: Parnell Park

KILKENNY 1-24 DUBLIN 3-16

Dublin came within minutes of pulling of a big early summer shock when they were overtaken by Kilkenny in the dying moments of this Leinster SHC round-robin clash at Parnell Park.

Pat Gilroy’s men were on top for most of the game, led by five points with ten minutes to go, before Liam Blanchfield’s injury-time goal put the Cats into the lead for the first time since the fourth minute and they held on for victory.

The Dubs, who got their match-ups and tactics bang on, were left to rue a number of missed opportunities while the loss of the impressive Conal Keaney to injury with ten minutes of normal time remaining was a huge blow for the hosts.

The Ballyboden St Enda’s man had shown all his big-game experience and strength til then as he took up clever positions to contribute four points from play.

After putting in a colossal effort Dublin faded late on while the Cats brought plenty of scoring power and experience in off the bench to engineer their late, late victory.

Dublin put in a great opening half with Liam Rushe delivering a powerful display at full-forward.

The St Pat’s of Palmerstown man went on a barnstorming direct line run in the fourth minute to tee up a great goal by Paul Ryan with a stunning finish.

Late in the half Rushe again drove straight at the Kilkenny defence and though Ryan’s effort was parried out Fergal Whitely followed up with whip the sliotar clinically to the roof of the net for Dublin to hold a 2-7 to 0-9 interval advantage.

Dublin's defence and midfield were doing brilliantly with Eoghan O'Donnell, Seán Moran, Chris Crummey and Shane Barrett particularly influential.

Alan Nolan also produced a stunning reflex save to deny Ger Aylward from close range following good work by the hard-working Walter Walsh.

Kilkenny were forced to make adjustments with Colin Fennelly introduced in the 33^rd minute, he went on to score three valuable points from play.

A Jake Malone scrambled goal following great quick interplay among the Dublin forwards had the home supporters sensing a big scalp.

However, the Dubs held the lead until the first minute of injury time before Cats keeper Eoin Murphy put his side within one with his fourth long-range free of the match before Liam Blanchfield stole in behind to score Kilkenny’s vital goal.

In the lead up Dublin could be aggrieved for not getting a free out after Paddy Smyth looked to have been fouled.

Sub Paul Winters reduced the gap to the minimum before TJ Reid ensured victory for Brian Cody’s men.

SCORERS – Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-12 (0-9f, 0-2 ‘65’), E Murphy 0-4 (0-4f), L Blanchfield 1-0, C Fennelly 0-3, J Maher, W Walsh 0-2 each, J Donnelly 0-1. Dublin: P Ryan 1-6 (0-5f), C Keaney 0-4, F Whitely, J Malone 1-0 each, P Winters 0-3 (0-2f), T Connolly, C Crummey, F MacGibb 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; J Holden, P Walsh, P Deegan; C Delaney, C Buckley, E Morrissey; R Leahy, J Maher; M Keoghan, TJ Reid, J Donnelly; B Sheehan, W Walsh, G Aywlard. Subs: C Fennelly for Sheehan (33), C Fogarty for Keoghan (ht), P Murphy for Morrissey (46), L Blanchfield for Leahy (55), L Scanlon for Aylward (59).

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, C O’Callaghan, B O’Carroll; C Crummey, S Moran, S Barrett; R McBride, E O’Donnell; J Malone, C Keaney, D Sutcliffe; F Whitely, L Rushe, P Ryan. Subs: P Winters for Ryan (45), F Mac Gib for Whitely (48), T Connolly for McBride (52), R O’Dwyer for Keaney (60 inj), S Durkin for Malone (66).

REF: D Kirwan (Cork).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013 LEINSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 29: O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

DUBLIN 1-16 KILKENNY 0-16

Anthony Daly's Dublin were heroic as they defeated the then All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny, in this Leinster SHC semi-final replay at O'Moore Park Portlaoise.

A crowd of 10,532 witnessed the Dubs record their first victory over the Cats in the Leinster SHC since 1942.

Danny Sutcliffe fired home the crucial goal in the second half as Paul Ryan tallied 0-8 (0-6f) while David O’Callaghan was outstanding in attack.

Dublin's defence excelled and after the match Liam Rushe was chaired off the field, try as he might to stop the Dublin supporters for doing so!

“We haven’t beaten them in championship for 40 years or something so we are happy to break that duck,” said Liam Rushe afterwards.

“To come to the same venue where we were massacred by Kilkenny last year means there’s a bit of romance to it as well.

“It’s one of the first times O’Moore Park has heard ‘Come on you Boys in Blue’ I’d say. Hopefully they’ll turn out in numbers for the Leinster final now.”

“When I came up here first to win a Leinster championship was an absolute dream,” said manager Anthony Daly. “The dream lives on I suppose. It’s been a great old championship to watch.”

SCORERS - Dubiln: P Ryan 0-8 (0-6f), D O'Callaghan 0-4, D Sutcliffe 1-0, C Keaney, S Durkin, M Schutte, E Dillon (0-1f) 0-1 each. Kilkenny: E Larkin 0-12 (0-11f, 0-1 '65'), R Power 0-2, C Fennelly, TJ Reid 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J McCaffrey, J Boland; C Keaney, R O'Dwyer, D Sutcliffe; D O'Callaghan, D Treacy, P Ryan. Subs C McCormack for O’Dwyer (ht), S Durkin for Boland (46), M Schutte for Treacy (48), E Dillon for Ryan (64), S Lambert for McCaffrey (68).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; C Fogarty, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; C Buckley, R Power; W WaLsh, M Rice, E Larkin; A Fogarty, R Hogan, TJ Reid. Subs: L Ryan for Buckley (21), C Fennelly for Rice (25), M Ruth for Walsh (60), P Walsh for Tyrrell (64), G Aylward for Reid (65).

REF: B Kelly (Westmeath).