Senior hurlers topple Kilkenny

DUBLIN 0-25 KILKENNY 3-11

Dublin's hurlers maintained their early season momentum when defeating Kilkenny in Sunday's NHL Division 1A clash at Nowlan Park.

Sunday's victory was Dublin's first victory against the Cats in Nowlan Park since 1964 (Walsh Cup match). Dublin did beat Kilkenny in November 1989 in NHL action in Callan while the previous NHL victory in Nowlan Park was in March 1961.

While there was five point between the sides at the finish Dublin were by far the better side and led by 14 points, 0-24 to 1-7, with 15 minutes remaining.

Dublin's cause was greatly helped by the sending off of two Kilkenny players (both straight reds) with Jonjo Farrell controversially sent off in the 24th minute and sub Joe Lyng in the 55th minute following a high pull on Cian Boland.

However, Dublin played some excellent hurling showing great composure and precision in their play as the hit the ground running from the first whistle to put the Cats on the back foot.

A superb Peter Kelly point on the run in the opening minute set the early tone and by the 11th minute Ger Cunningham's men were 0-7 to 0-1 to the good.

Danny Sutcliffe's power in the air and over the ground were to the fore as the St Jude's man clipped two stylish points while David Treacy was excellent form play and placed balls.

One of the best points of the game arrived in the 11th minute when Shane Durkin showed good vision and timing to reverse the ball to Kelly who split the post form the halfway line.

However, Dublin were punished in the 16th minute when Matthew Ruth was rewarded for his persistence when he first blocked a Paul Schutte attempted clearance before reacting quickest to steer the sliotar past Alan Nolan and then tap into an empty net.

Crucially though Dublin reacted with a Simon Lambert point.

There was just the minimum, 0-8 to 1-4, between the sides when full-forward Farrell was red-carded and it had a telling effect on the game.

Dublin quickly upped the tempo and points from Eamonn Dillon and two Treacy scores (one '65') settled the Dubs.

The Dubs also finished the half in a blitz of scores with Treacy scoring the concluding four points of the half to enter the break 0-15 to 1-5 to the good.

Early points in the second half from Mark Schutte and Sutcliffe strengthened Dublin's position and with Peter Kelly operating as the free man at the back the Dublin defence found itself under little concerted pressure.

Dublin's work-rate didn't drop with the likes of Chris Crummey getting through a mountain of work and Shane Durkin's fine 54th minute points had Dublin 0-24 to 1-7 clear.

However, Dublin were punished in the final ten minutes of the game when Richie Hogan blasted a 23-metre free to the net and four minutes from time Ruth whipped to the net from close range to close the gap.

As the game ticked into added time Danny Sutcliffe was sent off on a second yellow card.

Dublin face Cork in Croke Park on Saturday, March 7 (5.0) in their next NHL game - it forms part of a double-header with the NFL duel of Dublin and Tyrone.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Treacy 0-11 (0-4f, 0-3 '65'), D Sutcliffe 0-4, M Schutte, E Dillon 0-3 each, P Kelly 0-2, S Lambert, S Durkin 0-1 each. Kilkenny: R Hogan 1-7 (1-5f, 0-1 '65'), M Ruth 2-0, JJ Farrell, P Walsh, W Walsh, M Kelly 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; C O’Callaghan, M Carton, P Schutte; C Crummey, P Kelly, C Keaney; S Durkin, S Lambert; C Cronin, E Dillon, D Sutcliffe; D Treacy, L Rushe, M Schutte. Subs: C Boland for Cronin (53), P Ryan for Treacy (65).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; T Keogh, P Murphy, J Tyrrell; B Kennedy, K Joyce, C Buckley; G Brennan, L Ryan; P Walsh, W Walsh, M Ruth; M Kelly, J Farrell, R Hogan. Subs: J Power for Brennan (43), J Lyng for Kennedy (43).

REF: C Lyons (Cork).