Road to the Final- Determined Cats see off Dublin challenge

A solid scoring spell in either half helped Kilkenny keep a firm grip on the Leinster senior hurling title.

A run of seven points without reply before half-time, added to by six unanswered scores in the second half, proved crucial as Derek Lyng’s side shook off a stubborn Dublin.

The win came with a bonus - this result in UPMC Nowlan Park means the Cats are all but certain of a place in the provincial decider.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks and moved into a three-point lead inside the opening 11 minutes (0-4 to 0-1), Donal Burke doing most of the damage with three frees.

The Cats looked a little sluggish in the opening stages, but began to work their way back into the fray. Mossy Keoghan and the impressive David Blanchfield led the way, the latter scoring a point before embarking on a long solo that ended with a Paddy Deegan point to level matters by the 14th minute.

The final five minutes marked a change in Kilkenny’s form as they raised the tempo and kicked on. With Blanchfield and Darragh Corcoran leading the way from the half-back line they began to dominate possession, resulting in points for Reid (0-2), Cody and Billy Ryan.

Dublin ended a 14-minute barren spell with a Grogan point, but a superb score following a long burst forward from corner-back Mikey Butler ensured Derek Lyng’s side had a four-point cushion at the break (0-13 to 0-9).

Kilkenny worked hard to stay in front after the restart, and while Dublin closed to within a point they couldn’t get in front again. The key to victory came in the closing stages, when six points from TJ Reid (0-2, frees), Richie Reid, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen and Paddy Deegan helped them move eight points clear with little over five minutes of normal time remaining (0-24 to 0-16).

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny - TJ Reid (0-10, frees); Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan (0-3 each); Adrian Mullen, Martin Keoghan, Eoin Cody (0-2 each); Mikey Butler, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Billy Ryan (0-1 each); Billy Drennan (0-1, free).

Dublin - Donal Burke (0-10, 0-8 frees); Danny Sutcliffe, Mark Grogan, Dara Purcell (0-2 each); Eoghan O’Donnell, Conor Donohoe, Daire Gray, Cian Boland, Sean Currie (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Adrian Mullen, Paddy Deegan; Tom Phelan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Walter Walsh for Ryan, 53 mins; Cian Kenny for Phelan, 57 mins; Padraig Walsh for Corcoran, 61 mins; Cillian Buckley for R Reid (inj), 64 mins; Billy Drennan for TJ Reid, 70 mins.

Dublin - Sean Brennan; Paddy Doyle, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth; Conor Donohoe, Conor Burke, Daire Gray; Mark Grogan, Chris O’Leary; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Cian Boland; Sean Currie, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey.

Subs: James Madden for Gray, 46 mins; Alex Considine for Crummey, 48 mins; John Bellew for Grogan, 60 mins; Dara Purcell for Donohoe, 63 mins; Darragh Power for O’Sullivan, 67 mins.

Referee - Liam Gordon (Galway).