Recent meetings: Dublin v Kilkenny (hurling)

Dublin and Kilkenny meet this Saturday evening (7.30) in the Leinster SHC final at Croke Park.

The defending provincial champions, Kilkenny, have won the Leinster SHC on 72 previous occasions while the Dubs have secured it 24 times.

Dublin's last provincial success was in 2013, and prior to that it was 1961.

The sides have met in the last three Leinster championships and are also regular opponents in league action.

Here we look back on this year's league clash as well as some other recent head-to-heads between Saturday's Leinster SHC final opponents.

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DUBLIN v KILKENNY: SHC CLASHES OF RECENT YEARS

2020: Kilkenny 3-20 Dublin 2-22 (Leinster semi-final)

2019: Kilkenny 2-23 Dublin 1-21 (Leinster round-robin)

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)

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2021 HL DIVISION 1B (ROUND 1)

SATURDAY, MAY 8: Parnell Park

DUBLIN 0-18 KILKENNY 1-20

A dominant last quarter by Kilkenny saw them emerge five-point victors in this Allianz HL Division 1B opener at Parnell Park.

The sides were level, 0-16 each, entering the second-half water break after the Dubs had hit four unanswered points - two Donal Burke frees, an excellent point on the run from Danny Sutcliffe and the fourth from sub Cian Boland, a fine effort under pressure.

However, following the water stoppage the Cats forged ahead and took control.

Kilkenny wing-forward Martin Keoghan struck over to punish a misplaced clearance from Dublin that went straight to Pádraig Walsh and then in the 59th minute the Tullaroan clubman engineered a goal to put his side 1-17 to 0-16 clear.

From a Dublin perspective it was a poor goal to concede as they looked to have the situation under control but Keoghan worked his way along the endline before angling into space and finishing past Seán Brennan from close range.

It went from bad to worse for Dublin three minutes later when Liam Rushe was dismissed on a second yellow card. Rushe had been playing very well at the heart of the Dublin defence and in his absence Kilkenny tagged on three further points to ease to victory.

During the last quarter Kilkenny hit 1-4 with Dublin scoring just 0-2 - both frees late on from sub David Treacy.

Up to that point it was a very evenly contested duel with Kilkenny scoring the last three points of the opening half to lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the half-time interval.

Dublin's defence was doing well as a unit while the forwards were working hard against a robust Kilkenny defence.

Goal-scoring opportunities were very limited with Dublin keeper Brennan doing well to smother an effort from Keoghan in the eighth minute - with TJ Reid converting the resulting '65'.

In the 29th minute Ronan Hayes raced goalward but his shot from a difficult angle was parried out for a '65' by Eoin Murphy.

Dublin struck some good long-range scores with Daire Gray's from halfway in the 24th minute and Danny Sutcliffe's less than three minutes later after being picked out by keeper Brennan with a puckout were among the first-half highlights.

Andrew Dunphy, who started at corner-back in place of Cian O'Callaghan, also marked his fine display with an impressive long-range point in the fifth minute after combining with Danny Sutcliffe.

By the 14th minute of the second half Kilkenny had moved 0-16 to 0-12 clear but Dublin lifted their game and those Burke frees (two) and classy scores from Sutcliffe and Boland brought Dublin level.

After the water-break Dublin could not maintain that forward momentum and missed some chances, including frees, as Kilkenny made their winning move.

SCORERS - Kilkenny: M Keoghan 1-4, TJ Reid 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 '65'), J Bergin, P Walsh, J Donnelly 0-2, D Corcoran, C Buckley, A Murphy 0-1. Dublin: D Burke 0-7 (0-5f, 0-1 '65'), C Crummey, D Sutcliffe, D Treacy (0-2f) 0-2 each, A Dunphy, D Gray, E Dillon, D Keogh, C Boland 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; C Wallace, H Lawlor, P Deegan; D Corcoran, P Walsh, C Browne; C Buckley, R Leahy; J Donnelly, A Mullen, M Keoghan; J Bergin, TJ Reid, E Cody. Subs: R Reid for Leahy (12), J Maher for Mullen (ht), M Carey for Buckley (53), A Murphy for Bergin (59).

DUBLIN: S Brennan; A Dunphy, E O’Donnell, P Smyth; S Moran, L Rushe, D Gray; C Burke, J Madden; D Sutcliffe, C Crummey, R Hayes; D Burke, E Dillon, D Keogh. Subs: R McBride for Moran (42), C Boland for Keogh (45), C O’Sullivan for D Burke (60), J Malone for C Burke (63). P O’Dea for Maddden (70), D Treacy for Hayes (71), O O’Rorke for Dillon (73).

REF: J Keenan (Wicklow).

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2020 LEINSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31: Croke Park

KILKENNY 3-20 DUBLIN 2-22

Dublin went close to staging a remarkable winning comeback in this Leinster SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

After trailing by 15 points at half-time, 3-13 to 0-7, and by 16 early in the second half they summoned a fightback in the concluding quarter that brought them level with Daire Gray's point in the 71st minute.

However, the Cats steadied themselves with points from Alan Murphy and Huw Lawlor to edge two points in front before Donal Burke finished the scoring after a bizarre game.

Deep in added time Dublin were awarded a free which though was moved forward Donal Burke's effort from 95 metres fell short and the Cats progressed.

"It wasn’t left behind in the second half – it was probably left behind in the first half. Some of the mistakes we made in the first half were punished hugely by Kilkenny, and that’s what they do," said Dublin manager, Mattie Kenny, afterwards.

“But, in fairness to the guys, they regrouped at half-time and they went out and put in a really, really good performance in the second half. The fight they showed, the character they showed - I think we were 15 points down and it wasn’t a very pleasant situation to be in,” he added.

First half goals from Billy Ryan, the influential TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly had Kilkenny cruising at the break and still by the second half water break it was very hard to see Mattie Kenny's men get into contention despite points from Cian Boland and two from Donal Burke (including one free) as the score stood at 3-15 to 0-11 in Kilkenny's favour.

Kilkenny star TJ Reid has been a scoring thorn in Dublin's side in recent SHC meetings and his first half display was again central to the victory for Brian Cody's men.

However, Dublin kept chipping away and two Burke frees, either side of a TJ Reid score, was followed by a point from impressive sub Eamonn Dillon before Ronan Hayes did well close to goal when fielding a long delivery from Donal Burke before turning on goal and weaving past two defenders to grab Dublin's first goal - 3-16 to 1-14 after 57 minutes.

Further points from Chris Crummey, a fine effort, and Donal Burke (free) closed the gap to two clear goals. With six minutes to play Chris Crummey finished stylishly to the net for Dublin's second goal - batting a rebound past keeper Eoin Murphy after the Cats netminder had parried a drive from Donal Burke - and the Dubs were now on top with scores from Donal Burke (free) and two from Eamonn Dillon before Daire Gray equalised - 3-18 to 2-21 with three more minutes of added time to play.

But that was as good as it got for the Dubs in a frenetic finish with those points from Alan Murphy and Huw Lawlor enough to see Kilkenny into a provincial decider against Galway.

Dublin were transformed in this late spell, at odds with their display in the opening half when anything that could go wrong did.

SCORERS – Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-10 (0-6f), B Ryan, C Fennelly 1-1 each, J Donnelly, W Walsh 0-2 each, E Cody, C Delaney, A Murphy, H Lawlor 0-1 each. Dublin: D Burke 0-12 (0-10f), E Dillon 0-4, C Crummey 1-1, R Hayes 1-0, C Boland, D Gray 0-2 each, D Sutcliffe 0-1.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; H Lawlor, C Wallace, C Delaney; C Buckley, P Deegan, P Walsh; R Reid, C Fogarty; J Donnelly, E Cody, W Walsh; TJ Reid, B Ryan, C Fennelly. Subs: R Hogan for Ryan (51), M Keoghan for Cody (60), C Browne for Fogarty (64), A Murphy for Donnelly (64), R Leahy for R Reid (68).

DUBLIN: A Nolan; E O’Donnell, C O’Callaghan, J Madden; D Gray, P Smyth, C Burke; S Moran, R McBride; C Boland, D Burke, D Sutcliffe; C Crummey, D Keogh, L Rushe. Subs: E Dillon for Keogh (ht), R Hayes for Rushe (41), J Malone for Moran (50), M Schutte for Boland (59), F Whitely for McBride (70).

REF: J Murphy (Limerick).

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2020 HL DIVISION 1 GROUP B

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26: Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

KILKENNY 3-21 DUBLIN 0-18

Two first half goals from Kilkenny left Dublin always chasing this HL Division 1 Group B opener against the Cats in Nowlan Park.

Dublin led 0-2 to 0-1 early on, courtesy of two Oisín O’Rorke frees, before Ger Aylward struck for Kilkenny’s first goal in the tenth minute in front of an attendance of 5,605.

That goal still separated the counties heading towards the last ten minutes of the half when Billy Ryan hit the first of his two goals to put Kilkenny 2-6 to 0-6 clear.

Despite a red card to Kilkenny’s Richie Leahy, Dublin were still two clear goals adrift at the break, 2-10 to 0-10, with scores late in the half from Riain McBride, Seán Moran (a long-range free) and Ronan Hayes.

Dublin restarted well with another long-range Seán Moran free and fine point from play by Eamonn Dillon to reduce the gap to four points.

However, Kilkenny responded strongly with scores from Niall Brassil, John Donnelly and an Alan Murphy free to move seven points ahead, 2-13 to 0-12 by the 44th minute.

Before the 50th minute Seán Moran had added two points (including one free) with Eamonn Dillon on target for the second time to leave five between the sides with 20 minutes to play.

But Dublin really needed a goal to ignite a comeback which materialised with Kilkenny’s third goal coming in the 60th minute, Billy Ryan again the scorer, to send the Cats on their way to a comfortable 12-point victory.

"We introduced a few new players today and I suppose last year we worked hard early on in the league and, as the championship went on, we seemed to lose our form a little bit. Having said that, we still would have liked a better performance today,” said Dublin manager Mattie Kenny.

SCORERS - Kilkenny: A Murphy 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 '65'), B Ryan 2-0, G Aylward 1-0, P Deegan, C Fogarty, W Walsh, N Brassil 0-2 each, J Donnelly, M Keoghan, L Scanlon, M Carey, B Sheehan 0-1 each. Dublin: O O’Rorke 0-6 (0-4f), S Moran 0-4 (0-3f), R Hayes (0-1f), E Dillon 0-2 each, D Sutcliffe, C Crummey, R McBride, T Connolly (0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; C Wallace, H Lawlor, C Delaney; M Cody, P Deegan, M Carey; C Fogarty, A Murphy; J Donnelly, W Walsh, R Leahy; B Ryan, G Aylward, N Brassil. Subs: M Keoghan for Aylward (45), J Maher for A Murphy (52), T Walsh for Cody (56), B Sheehan for Ryan (60).

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, J Madden; C Crummey, D Gray, C O’Callaghan; F Whitely, R McBride; T Connolly, D Sutcliffe, R Hayes; C Boland, O O’Rorke, E Dillon. Subs: S Moran for Whitely (31), M Schutte for Boland (40), L McMullan for Connolly (57), J Hetherton for McBride (65).

REF: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).

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2019 LEINSTER SHC ROUND-ROBIN ROUND 1

SATURDAY, MAY 11: Nowlan Park

KILKENNY 2-23 DUBLIN 1-21

Dublin's Leinster SHC round-robin round 1 hopes faded late in the second half as Kilkenny came with a storming finish to secure victory at Nowlan Park.

The Dubs led at half-time by four points, 1-13 to 0-12, after a rip-roaring opening 35 minutes.

However, TJ Reid once again proved to be the tormentor-in-chief as Kilkenny mounted a powerful second half surge that brought them to victory.

Reid scored 0-12 (0-9, 0-2 '65') when Kilkenny broke Dublin hearts in Parnell Park last summer and on Saturday night in Nowlan Park did even more damage when tallying 2-12 (0-11f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 '65').

Kilkenny also made some positional and tactical switches with Padraig Walsh moving back onto Danny Sutcliffe and Huw Lalor repositioned at full-back while half-time sub Richie Leahy posted two points from play from midfield.

Dublin were leading by three points when Reid and Colin Fennelly combined brilliantly for a goal in the 47th minute.

But Dublin dug in and twice later in the half edged back a point in front but on both occasions it was Kilkenny who scored next.

With 13 minutes remaining the Cats struck for what was arguably the decisive score when Colin Fennelly was fouled in the square and despite finding the net referee Cathal McAllister had already sounded his whistle for a penalty.

The outcome was the same as TJ Reid recorded Kilkenny's second goal.

From there to the finish, in front of a crowd of 9,495, Kilkenny held slightly the upperhand and outscored Dublin 0-6 to 0-4 to run out five-point victors.

In the opening half the Dubs were the better side against a Kilkenny starting 15 including five SHC debutants - goalkeeper Darren Brennan, Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Alan Murphy and Adrian Mullen.

The intensity and physicality was impressive with the movement of Dublin's inside forward line and ball-winning of Liam Rushe causing problems for the Cats with Danny Sutcliffe, in particular, clipping over some stylish scores.

At the back the Dublin half-back line once again was setting the tone for the rest of Mattie Kenny's men to follow.

Nine minutes in, Fergal Whitely angled in off the right wing and his pass was gathered athletically by Rushe who was eventually hauled to ground for a penalty.

Seán Moran was clinical, leaving keeper Brennan rooted to the line as the Dubs went on to lead for the remainder of the first half.

Dublin had another sight of goal but Paul Ryan's effort for the top corner whistled outside the post.

Just before the break Dublin were awarded a second penalty, again after Rushe was fouled, but this time Moran blazed his effort over the crossbar as Dublin held a 1-13 to 0-12 interval advantage.

Reflecting on the game Dublin manager Mattie Kenny said: "We were in a reasonably healthy position going in at half-time. Ten minutes after half-time we kind of maintained that position but then Kilkenny got a goal and from that we started going too direct and too route-one.

“That gave their backs a chance to mop up the possession and build out. They had a bit more space to attack in the second-half rather than the first. That’s a thing I try to coach a lot, that would be big in my philosophy of hurling – that you build your attacks.

“In the last 20 minutes we went too much route one, and that allowed the Kilkenny backs to sit back, eat up that possession. Then when they were coming out, they had more space to attack into.

“I think Dublin built some lovely scores in the first half and we just needed to maintain that approach and have the mental discipline to keep doing that.”

SCORERS - Kilkenny: TJ Reid 2-12 (0-11f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 ‘65’), A Murphy 0-3, G Aylward, R Leahy 0-2 each, W Walsh, P Walsh, A Mullen, T Walsh 0-1 each. Dublin: D Treacy 0-6 (0-6f), S Moran 1-2 (1-1 pen, 0-1f), D Sutcliffe 0-4, F Whitely, C Crummey 0-2 each, D O’Connell, P Ryan, T Connolly, L Rushe, S Treacy 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: D Brennan; P Murphy, P Deegan, T Walsh; E Morrissey, H Lawlor, C Fogarty; P Walsh, A Murphy; A Mullen, W Walsh, TJ Reid; B Ryan, C Fennelly, G Aylward. Subs: R Leahy for Morrissey (ht), R Hogan for Ryan (40).

DUBLIN: A Nolan; D O’Connell, E O’Donnell, P Smyth; S Barrett, C Crummey, S Moran; S Treacy, T Connolly; F Whitely, D Sutcliffe, D Treacy; P Ryan, L Rushe, E Dillon. Subs: R McBride for Connolly (51), C Keaney for Ryan (61), C Boland for S Treacy (66), J Malone for D Treacy (72), R Hayes for Rushe (74).

REF: C McAllister (Cork).

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2018 LEINSTER SHC ROUND-ROBIN

SUNDAY, MAY13: Parnell Park

KILKENNY 1-24 DUBLIN 3-16

Dublin came within minutes of pulling off 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 until 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 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 33rd 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).

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