Kilkenny 2-20 Dublin 1-19:THEY REALLY do own this sport right now. Dublin made Kilkenny earn their sixth under-21 provincial crown this century but a supposedly below average black and amber side rubbished that theory with a performance that amazes, considering only Richie Hogan is worth a place at Brian Cody training sessions at present.
Considering the masterful Hogan is unable to command a starting berth at senior, the depth of their resources is breathtaking.
Dublin, like their senior counterparts, carry the burden of gallant losers once more but they genuinely look set to become the main thorn in Kilkenny’s side in Leinster for the foreseeable future.
“The scores you got were amazing. When you are in that form you are unbeatable,” said Leinster chairman Seamus Howlin before handing the Sen Robins Cup to captain David Langton.
“They are definitely the up and coming team in the country,” said Langton of his opponents without a shred of arrogance in his tone.
To the marvellous spectacle then. Three minutes on the clock and Dublin were bloodied and dazed. Kilkenny had done the one thing Dublin needed to ensure did not occur; they led 1-3 to no score.
Wing back Paul Schutte was the first man exposed as John Mulhall rattled two points in the opening seconds. Mulhall was unmarked moments later to feed James Nolan who found John Joe Farrell. The full forward stepped inside Dublin goalkeeper Finn McGarry to find the net.
Hogan’s first touch saw him fouled. He pointed the free. Simon Lambert landed a ‘65’ opportunity to open Dublin’s account. Some textbook hooking and blocking from the swarming Kilkenny defenders followed as Hogan struck a free from halfway.
Dublin eventually got some early ball into Liam Rushe who reaped immediate benefits. If only Garbutt’s free-taking had been on song they may have held pace. But there was no margin for error here. Lambert hit another 65 but this merely prompted an angry Kilkenny response, a feature of this ideal summer evening.
Farrell was denied a goal by a great tackle from Rory O’Carroll before Hogan strangely missed with a free.
Dublin had found a rhythm. Rush walloped a bullet over the bar after another clean take ahead of fullback Paddy Nolan, who was unable to contain him alone.
Before they got used to the three-point margin, Mark Bergin flicked over two fine scores. Liam Ryan, Mulhall and a miraculous effort from Hogan from halfway put an exclamation mark on the opening 30 minutes.
It was irresistible hurling. Dublin maintained pace, played smart but the early errors were never going to be forgiven. Dublin snipers like David Treacy and Barry O’Rorke, when in possession, were welcomed by at least three defenders.
A rapid Dublin assault was required in the second-half. It duly came with scores from O’Rorke and Peter Kelly but the responding scores kept on coming.
To Dublin’s credit they kept matters alive with Kelly’s opportunistic goal making it a five-point game. O’Rorke and Treacy found some space to pull it back to three.
Then came the hammer blow as JJ Farrell utilised the full length of his hurl to scrape in his second goal while lying prostrate on the square’s edge. Dublin had chances, a great hook by Martin Walsh denied O’Rorke a glorious goal opportunity.
But the result was merely further testament to the relentless excellence of Kilkenny hurling. It is a pleasure to witness.
KILKENNY: C McGrath; P Murphy, P Nolan, C Fogarty; M Walsh, D Langton, L Ryan; M Kelly (0-1), L Ryan (0-2); C Fennelly, M Bergin (0-4), J Mulhall (0-4); R Hogan (0-5, four frees), JJ Farrell (2-2), J Nolan (0-2). Subs: K Hogan for C Fennelly (55 mins).
DUBLIN: F McGarry; G Kelly, M Quilty, O Gough; P Schutte, R O’Carroll, R Walsh; S Lambert (0-4, two 65s, free), C Clinton (0-3); P Kelly (1-3), D Treacy 0-3, two frees), P Garbutt (0-1, free); D O’Connor, L Rushe (0-2), B O’Rorke (0-2). Subs: D Whelan for P Garbutt (36 mins), M May (0-1) for Schutte (40), J Sheanon for Lambert (inj, 49 mins), D Kelly for O’Connor (51 mins). D O Maoileidigh for Gough (57 mins).
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).
Kilkenny will play the winners of the Ulster championship in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, August 22nd.
