Under 20- Kilkenny youngsters see off gallant Dublin effort

Kilkenny booked their place in the Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship semi-finals after having two points to spare over Dublin in the final round of the round-robin at a wet and damp UPMC Nowlan Park.

The Cats were lacklustre for much of the opening half but helped by a Ted Dunne goal , the hosts turned the tide to claim their second victory of the provincial campaign.

Kilkenny had 11 scores over the course of the 60 plus minutes and despite dominating the majority of the second half, they were still left hanging on come the end when Dublin corner back David Lucey blasted a shot off the post with the last puck of the game.

While Kilkenny scored three of the first four points courtesy of Gearoid Dunne, Harry Shine and Billy Reid,it was an opening quarter that Dublin maintained control in.

A 10th minute goal from Jamie Conroy followed up on points from James O’Brien and Diarmaid O’Dulaing gave the Metropolitans a 1-2 to 0-3 advanatge.

Dublin’s running style had all the attributes of a Derek McGrath side with the former Waterford manager involved with Dublin as a selector and it took a long time for Kilkenny to find their groove.

By the 20th minute of the first half Dublin led 1-8 to 0-6 but Kilkenny did improve as the game went on.

Points from senior star Gearoid Dunne and Cathal Beirne kept Mark Dowling’s team in touch and when Ted Dunne scored a somewhat fortuitous goal on the back of Cillian Hackett hitting the crossbar, the game sprung to life.

Dunne’s goal left just two points between the sides and after Hackett went so close with a well thought out flick, he then split the posts from the next attack.

Dublin responded with a James O’Brien score that turned out to be just one of four points over the course of the game for the impressive midfielder.

Kilkenny ended the half on top though as both Joe Fitzpatrick and Killian Doyle pointed from play to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-9 apiece at the break.

Dublin regained the lead at the start of the second half when goalscorer Jamie Conroy pointed from distance.

The home side hit back in style with successive efforts from Billy Reid and team captain Luke Connellan giving the Cats a 1-11 to 1-10 lead.

Another James O’Brien point again deadlocked the sides before Kilkenny scored three of the next four points.

Paddy Langton, Cathal Beirne and Luke Connellan all found their range but despite that little spurt, Kilkenny still couldn’t shake off a stubborn Dublin outfit that showed why they had already accounted for Galway and Wexford.

Successful efforts from O’Dulaing, Ciaran Donovan and sub Conor Brennan did level the game for the fourth time in the second half but from that point on Kilkenny’s strength in depth began to tell.

Five points on the spin from the returning from injury Denis Walsh, Gearoid Dunne and Joe Fitzpatrick gave Kilkenny a 1-19 to 1-14 lead and with only five minutes remaining, the result appeared to be in the bag.

After Harry Shine and Luke O’Loughlin swapped late scores, Kilkenny went asleep for a period with 1-1 on the bounce giving Dublin a chance of snatching a result.

Liam Garrigan’s stoppage time goal gave Dublin that lifeline but Kilkenny eased the pressure when Gearoid Dunne knocked over his sixth point of the evening.

Dublin rallied one more time and they almost robbed the hosts at the death when corner back David Lucey found space among Kilkenny defenders but his goalbound effort hit off the post before referee Eamon Furlong blew the final whistle mere seconds later as the Cats ran out 1-21 to 2-16 winners.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Gearoid Dunne (0-6, four frees), Ted Dunne (1-0), Joe Fitzpatrick, Billy Reid, Cathal Beirne, Luke Connellan, Harry Shine, Denis Walsh (0-2 each), Paddy Langton, KIllian Doyle, Cillian Hackett (0-1 each)

Dublin- Diarmaid O’Dulaing (0-5, two frees), Jamie Conroy (1-1), James O’Brien (0-4), Liam Garrigan (1-0), Ollie Gaffney (0-2), Ciaran Donovan, Neil Clerkin, Conor Brennan, Luke O’Loughlin (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Stephen Manogue (James Stephens); Padraig Lennon (Carrickshock), Sean Purcell (Windgap), Jeff Neary (Graigue Ballycallan); Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin), Eoghan Lyng (Rower Inistioge), Paddy Langton (Young Irelands); Billy Reid (Glenmore), Killian Doyle (Emeralds); Cathal Beirne (Glenmore), Luke Connellan (Thomastown), Gearoid Dunne (Tullaroan); Cillian Hackett (Dicksboro), Ted Dunne (Graignamanagh), Harry Shine (Dicksboro).

Subs- Denis Walsh (Dunnamaggin) for Langton 39 mins, Darragh Queally (Emeralds) for T Dunne 48 mins, Eoin O’Brien (Rower Inistioge) for Hackett 56 mins, Zach Bay Hammond (Thomastown) for Connellan 59 mins, James Carroll (Dicksboro) for Walsh 63 mins.

Dublin- Adam O’Connor; David Lucey, Darragh Geraghty, Brian Dunne; Jack Behan, Jack O’Shea, Conal O’Riain; James O’Brien, Sean Gallagher; Brendan Kenny, Jamie Conroy, Ollie Gaffney; Ciaran Donovan, Diarmaid O’Dulaing, Neil Clerkin.

Subs- Luke O’Loughlin for Behan h-t, Neil Hogan for Conroy 39 mins, Liam Garrigan for Kenny 44 mins, Conor Brennan for Clerkin 48 mins.

Referee- Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)