Dublin dethrone Kilkenny in Under-19 final at UPMC Nowlan Park

Kilkenny’s bid for a three-in-a-row in the Revise.ie Under 19 Hurling Development League came to an end on Wednesday evening at UPMC Nowlan Park, as a well-drilled Dublin side claimed a deserved victory.

Although Dublin only took the lead for the second time in the 34th minute (1-14 to 2-10), their sharp use of possession and wide spread of scorers proved decisive throughout. In total, ten players from Páraic Tierney’s side got on the scoresheet, underlining their attacking depth.

The key moment arrived with 20 minutes remaining. Wing-forward Adam Ryan showed superb skill to control the ball on his hurl before firing past Daniel McCormack to the net, pushing Dublin into a 2-15 to 2-11 lead and providing the spark that drove them on to secure their first title at this grade.

Dublin built on that momentum, adding 1-3 by the 50th minute through a goal from Eoghan Brennan and points from Dean Simpson and Conal Criosteoir. Kilkenny responded with scores from Conor McEvoy (free) and Thomas Langton, but by then the gap had stretched to eight points (3-18 to 2-13), a deficit they could not overcome.

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At half-time, few Kilkenny supporters perhaps would have anticipated a five-point loss, given the strong performance from the young Cats in the opening period. Bill Beckett’s side made a flying start, racing into a four-point lead inside six minutes, with Adam Franks contributing two early points.

Dublin responded quickly, with Eoghan Brennan netting his first goal in the ninth minute to edge his side ahead (1-2 to 0-4). Even so, Kilkenny appeared to have the upper hand in what remained a tightly contested encounter.

Goals from Adam Franks in the 15th minute and Thomas Langton in the 24th, along with points from Conor Farrell, Conor McEvoy and Cian Donnelly, pushed Kilkenny four points clear (2-8 to 1-7) with six minutes left in the half.

However, Dublin finished the half strongly, hitting five of the last six points to draw level by the break (2-9 to 1-12), a shift in momentum that hinted at what was to come.

Kilkenny remained competitive after the restart, but a return of just three points from play in the second half ultimately told its own story. While four frees—three from Conor McEvoy and one from Conor Farrell—kept them within reach, Dublin maintained control.

A late goal from Cian Farrell in stoppage time offered brief hope, but it was Dublin who saw the game out comfortably, capping a composed and clinical display to claim a historic and well-earned victory.

Kilkenny - Daniel McCormack,; Matthew Murphy, Pierce Costelloe, Darragh Hickey; Rian McDonald, Luke Lawlor, PJ Mackey; Robbie Doherty, Ben McEvoy; Conor Farrell, Thomas Langton, Conor McEvoy; Adam Franks, Robert McEvoy, Cian Donnelly. Subs Used - Kealan Barcoe, Ned Spellman and Aidan Carroll.

Dublin - Sean Gorey; Kyle Comerford, Colm McCabe, Jamie Mahon; Conal Murphy, Rory Flannery, Cole Condon; Ciaran Fitzgerald, Cillian Beere; Adam Ryan, Connie O'Sullivan, Dean Simpson; PJ O'Toole, Michael O'Brien, Eoghan Brennan.

Full report in next week's Kilkenny People

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