Senior Hurlers Fall To Leinster Championship Defeat To Kilkenny

DUBLIN 0-21 

KILKENNY 0-27 

Dublin suffered their first reverse in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship when falling to Kilkenny by six points in their Round 4 encounter at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening.

There were some encouraging signs throughout for the Dubs, who started both halves on the front foot, but the hosts gradually pulled away to claim a hard-earned but deserved success.

The visitors will rue Kilkenny scoring bursts in either half with the Cats hitting six points on the bounce on two occasions, effectively taking the game away from Dublin in the process.

The Dubs would have focussed their energies on a strong start and they duly delivered despite falling behind to an early TJ Reid free.

Donal Burke levelled matters in the 5^th minute with his first of eight frees and a minute later Danny Sutcliffe popped over following a smart pass from Seán Currie.

The visitors looked lively in attack and fouls on Paul Crummey and Sutcliffe allowed Burke to convert two further frees to extend Dublin’s lead to three points by the 12^th minute.

Almost inevitably, Kilkenny struck back with three successive points from Martin Keoghan, David Blanchfield and Paddy Deegan but Dublin responded well to regain their advantage by the end of the first quarter thanks to Burke and Conor Donohoe.

An excellent Cian Boland score restored Dublin’s three point lead and while Reid and Mark Grogan traded points as the half progressed, the hosts gradually began to take control of events.

Tom Phelan’s point preceded three frees in succession by Reid with Eoin Cody and Billy Ryan also on target as the Cats pushed four points clear towards the end of the half.

Dublin stemmed their momentum briefly through Grogan’s second score of the half but a Mikey Butler point in added time saw Kilkenny enter the break leading by four points (0-13 to 0-9).

A Burke free within two minutes of the restart allowed Dublin to resume on the front foot with Daire Gray and a glorious Burke point leaving the bare minimum between the sides by the 42^nd minute.

However, the hosts struck a trio of points of their own through Phelan, Reid and Keoghan and while Burke and Currie replied for Dublin, Kilkenny kept control on the scoreboard through Reid and Phelan.

Burke and Paddy Deegan traded points in the early stages of the fourth quarter to leave the contest on a knife-edge but it was at this juncture that the hosts began to put distance between the sides as Richie Reid, TJ Reid, Cody and Adrian Mullen all split the uprights.

At the opposite end, Burke’s powerful shot was well parried by Eoin Murphy in the home goal and while Dublin finished impressively through points from Sutcliffe, Eoghan O’Donnell and a brace by substitute Dara Purcell, it was Kilkenny that had the final word thanks to Deegan as they prevailed by six points.

Dublin’s final group game will take place in Croke Park next Sunday afternoon, as they seek to extend their campaign when they host Galway (2.00).

Scorers – Dublin: D Burke 0-10 (8f), D Sutcliffe, M Grogan, D Purcell 0-2 each, E O’Donnell, C Donohoe, D Gray, C Boland, S Currie 0-1 apiece. Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-10 (10f), P Deegan, T Phelan 0-3 each, A Mullen, M Keoghan, E Cody 0-2 each, M Butler, D Blanchfield, R Ryan, B Ryan, B Drennan 0-1 apiece. 

Dublin: S Brennan; P Doyle, E O’Donnell, P Smyth; C Donohoe, C Burke, D Gray; M Grogan, C O’Leary; D Sutcliffe, D Burke, C Boland; S Currie, C O’Sullivan, P Crummey. Subs: J Madden for Gray (46), A Considine for Crummey (48), J Bellew for Grogan (60), D Purcell for Donohoe (63), D Power for O’Sullivan (67).

Kilkenny: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, D Corcoran; A Mullen, P Deegan; T Phelan, J Donnelly, B Ryan; M Keoghan, TJ Reid, E Cody. Subs: W Walsh for Ryan (53), C Kenny for Phelan (57), P Walsh for Corcoran (61), C Buckley for R Reid (64), B Drennan for TJ Reid (70).

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).