Senior hurlers defeated by Kilkenny in HL duel

HL DIVISION 1 GROUP B

KILKENNY 3-21 DUBLIN 0-18

Two first half goals from Kilkenny left Dublin always chasing a losing case in their HL Division 1 Group B opener against the Cats in Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

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 44^th minute.

Before the 50^th 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 60^th 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. 

Dublin host Laois in Parnell Park next Sunday in the next HL encounter.

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).