U20 Hurlers just lose out to Kilkenny

KILKENNY 1-21 DUBLIN 2-16

Dublin battled bravely before eventually succumbing to Kilkenny by two points in their entertaining Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 3 encounter at Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

The teams were deadlocked at 1-9 apiece at the interval but Kilkenny took control in the final quarter and while Laim Garrigan’s goal in added time offered Dublin hopes of salvaging a draw, Gearóid Dunne converted a late free to ensure his team’s third win in succession.

Both teams had enjoyed wins over Galway and Wexford prior to Saturday’s clash and had confirmed their semi-final berths as a result so there was a degree of experimentation in both selections as the hosts started on the front foot.

Billy Reid and Gearóid Dunne scored early points for the Cats and while the impressive James O’Brien replied for Dublin, Harry Shine quickly restored Kilkenny’s two-point advantage.

Dublin gradually got to grips with matters and after Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing had converted a free, Jamie Conroy pounced in the 10^th minute for his third goal is many matches to push the visitors two points ahead.

Dunne and Ó Dúlaing exchanged points but Dublin looked the more cohesive side initially as they moved further clear thanks to O’Brien and Neil Clerkin.

Dublin’s lead increased to double scores (1-7 to 0-5) by the end of the first quarter with Ó Dúlaing and Ollie Gaffney on target but Kilkenny got back on tracks as they found the net in the 23^rd minute through full-forward Ted Dunne.

They reduced their deficit to a solitary point thanks to Cillian Hackett and while O’Brien replied at the opposite end, both Killian Doyle and Joe Fitzpatrick added points to ensure parity by the turnaround.

The contest resumed with a glut of scores on either side as scores from Luke Connellan, Reid and Eoghan Lyng were cancelled out by Dublin scores provided by Conroy, O’Brien and Ó Dúlaing.

The hosts moved two points ahead thanks to Cathal Beirne and Connellan but Dublin drew level once again as substitutes Neil Hogan and Conor Brennan made a positive impact on the scoreboard.

However, Kilkenny seized control through two points apiece from Dunne and substitute Denis Walsh and while Garrigan netted late on to leave his side trailing by the bare minimum, Dunne had the final word with his sixth point of the game as both sides turned their attentions to the knockout stages.

Scorers – Kilkenny: G Dunne 0-6 (4f), T Dunne 1-0, B Reid, H Shine, C Beirne, J Fitzpatrick, L Connelllan, D Walsh 0-2 each, C Hackett, K Doyle, E Lyng 0-1 apiece. Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing 0-5 (2f), J O’Brien 0-4, J Conroy 1-1, L Garrigan 1-0, O Gaffney 0-2, N Clerkin, N Hogan, L O’Loughlin, C Brennan 0-1 apiece.

Kilkenny: S Manogue; P Lennon, S Purcell, J Neary; J Fitzpatrick, E Lyng, P Langton; B Reid, K Doyle; C Beirne, L Connellan, G Dunne; C Hackett, T Dunne, H Shine. Subs: D Walsh for Langton (40), D Queally for T Dunne (49), E O’Brien for Hackett (57), Z Bay Hammond for Connellan (60).

Dublin: A O’Connor; D Lucey, D Geraghty, B Dunne; J Behan, J O’Shea, C Ó Riain; J O’Brien, S Gallagher; B Kenny, D Ó Dúlaing, O Gaffney; C Donovan, J Conroy, N Clerkin. Subs: L O’Loughlin for Behan (half-time), L Garrigan for Kenny (42), N Hogan for Conroy (44), C Walsh for O’Brien (50), C Brennan for Clerkin (51).