O'Donovan goal helps Kilkenny claim minor hurling glory

Kilkenny are celebrating a 60th Leinster Minor hurling title and a first in three years after they defeated Dublin in Saturday's provincial decider in Portlaoise.

The Cats looked in a degree of trouble when only leading by two points at half-time despite playing with a very strong breeze but Niall Bergin's team were much improved in the second half and backed by an Ollie O'Donovan goal and strong showings from Jake Mullen, Robbie Doherty and Eoin Brennan, Kilkenny sealed an automatic place in the All-Ireland semi-finals in a couple of weeks time.

Jake Mullen has been the standout Kilkenny performer throughout the championship campaign thus far and his six points in the opening half helped his side maintain the lead even if it was a narrow one after Eoghan Brennan got an opportunistic goal for the Dubs.

Dublin had already defeated Kilkenny earlier in the round-robin stages and their defensive style caused any amount of issues to the winners on that occasion and the side in black and amber needed to be patient in their play and they were precisely that at the start of the second half.

Back to back efforts from Conor Holohan, Jake Mullen, Robbie Doherty and a wonderfully placed score by Eoin Brennan saw Kilkenny go clear and they all but ended the game as a contest when Ollie O'Donovan fought off three defenders before flicking the sliotar to the net.

O'Donovan's goal turned out to be Kilkenny's final score of the game as Dublin made a valiant comeback in the final ten minutes with well taken points from Cathal O'Flynn, Tommy Cullen and Rory Flannery.

Dublin couldn't narrow the deficit any further however as Kilkenny ran out fully deserved 1-13 to 1-9 winners.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny:  Jake Mullen (0-7, 5fs), Ollie O’Donovan (1-0), Robbie Doherty (0-2), Oisin Henderson, David Barcoe, Conor Holohan, Eoin Brennan (0-1 each)

Dublin: Eoghan Brennan (1-0), Rory Flannery (0-3, 2fs and 1 ‘65), Tommy Cullen (0-2), Cathal O’Flynn, Darragh Kilduff, Tom Higgins, Killian Costello (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: Jake O’Doherty; Oisin Henderson, Larry Phelan, Bobby Brennan; David Barcoe, Jack Dollard, Mikey Rohan; Robbie Doherty, Kevin Buggy; Eoin Brennan, Bill McDermott, Conor Holohan; Ollie O’Donovan, Jason Cody, Jake Mullen.

Subs: Eoghan Cahill for McDermott 50 mins, Cian Byrne for Cody 50 mins.

Dublin: Padraig Ryan; Mark Byrne, Shane Dunphy, Rory Duffy; Conor Quinn, Cathal O’Flynn, Tommy Cullen; James Norris, Fiachra Codd; Eoghan Brennan, Rory Flannery, Fionn Daly; Darragh Kilduff, Tom Higgins, Killian Costello.

Subs: Senan Bolger for Higgins h-t, Cathal Barrett for Costello 41 mins, Ciaran Fitzgerald for Duffy 46 mins, Oscar Brennan for E.Brennan 46 mins, Adam Ryan for Codd 61 mins.

Referee: Matty Redmond (Kildare)