U20 hurlers defeated in All-Ireland decider

BORD GAIS ENERGY ALL-IRELAND U20HC FINAL (2020)

CORK 2-19 DUBLIN 1-18

A slow start cost Dublin dearly as they were beaten by Cork in Saturday evening's Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U20HC final (2020) in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

The Rebels made an electric start to the first half and were 1-4 to 0-0 to the good inside just eight minutes.

Dublin battled to the finish but they could never reel in that early deficit despite improving in the second half.

For Cork it was their 12th All-Ireland title at the U21/U20 grade while Dublin's search for a historic first title continues - this latest defeat in a decider their fifth following losses on final day in 1967, 1972, 2007 and 2011.

Before Dublin had settled points from Pádraig Power, Alan Connolly, Shane Barrett and Daire Connery had Cork four points up.

It got worse for the Dubs when Seán Twomey was in the right place at the right time to bat to an empty net after Pádraig Power's original goal attempt was well saved by Dublin keeper Eddie Gibbons, Alan Connolly having initially created the opening with some skillful and forceful play.

Liam Murphy opened Dublin's account in the tenth minute following a good ball from Kevin Burke out of defence.

By the first water break Cork were 1-6 to 0-2 clear, Liam Murphy having also scored Dublin's second point.

Dara Purcell, who enjoyed a good game off limited possession, and Liam Murphy, after a good long delivery from Darach McBride, boosted Dublin's scoring to make it 1-7 to 0-4 after 20 minutes as Dublin looked to be making inroads following some good early, accurate delivery into the inside forward line.

By the break Dublin had further scorers in Liam Murphy (free), Micheál Murphy, following good combination play by Darragh Power and Darach McBride, and Kevin Desmond but were 1-11 to 0-7 adrift at the half-time interval.

Dara Purcell opened the second-half scoring for Dublin within a minute of the restart and approaching the three-quarter mark Dublin were hanging in with scores from goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons, a long-range free, and Dara Purcell, but the young Dubs also paid a price for the misuse of possession and wrong options.

With ten minutes to play Pádraig Power's goal, Cork's second, gave his side an eight-point cushion.

Dublin, though, kept battling for every ball with Andrew Dunphy doing so excellent work in defence and recorded scores from Liam Murphy (free), Eddie Gibbons (free) and Dara Purcell before sub Luke McDwyer batted the sliotar to the net after Eddie Gibbons' free from 25 metres was parried.

But it wasn't to be for Paul O'Brien's side as Cork moved ahead of Tipperary and Kilkenny to the top of the roll of honour.

SCORERS - Cork: P Power 1-1, S Twomey 1-0, S Barrett, D Connery (0-2f), Alan Connolly (0-2f) 0-3 each, D Flynn, T O’Connell, C O’Brien (0-1sline), B Hayes 0-2 each, J Cahalane 0-1. Dublin: L Murphy 0-6 (0-3f), D Purcell 0-4, L McDwyer 1-0, M Murphy 0-3, K Desmond, Eddie Gibbons (0-2f) 0-2 each, D Power 0-1.

CORK: E Davis; C O’Callaghan, E Roche, A Walsh Barry; D Connery, C Joyce, D O’Leary; D Flynn, T O’Connell; B Roche, S Barrett, S Twomey; P Power, A Connolly, C O’Brien. Subs: J Cahalane for O’Brien (40), E Carey for Twomey (41), B Hayes for Connolly (49), S O’Regan for Flynn (52),

DUBLIN: E Gibbons; T Kinnane, A Dunphy, A Murphy; E O’Connell, K Burke, I Ó hEither; M Sweeney, D Power; D McBride, M Murphy, L Gannon; D Purcell, K Desmond, L Murphy. Subs: D Leavy for O’Donnell (39), C Foley for Sweeney (45), L McDwyer for McBride (47), B Sheehy for Kinnane (55), P Linehan for Power (56), D Leavy for M Murphy (57).

REF: J Keenan (Wicklow).