Kilkenny 1-23 Dublin 3-15:KILKENNY MAY have blitzed all before them in recent weeks, but they got the fright of their lives against Dublin in an absorbing Division One clash at sun-kissed Nowlan Park yesterday.
With six minutes remaining brave Dublin hit the front when top scorer David O’Callaghan fired to the net to complete a flowing move involving David Curtin and Shane Durkan. That put Dublin into a 3-14 to 0-21 lead. However, their failure to then convert two frees, one a difficult one, the other a decent opportunity, meant they didn’t press home the advantage.
Kilkenny hit back to snatch a win that will still leave them with something to think about before the league final against defending champions Tipperary on May 3rd. Hurler of the year Eoin Larkin came to Kilkenny’s rescue when he burst through the Dublin defence to fire home a fine goal with two minutes remaining.
After blasting another free wide, new free-taker David Curtin levelled the match on the stroke of full time when he converted a free from 55 metres. However, in added time points from Larkin and Richie Hogan sufficed to give Kilkenny a fortunate win.
“We had a great chance to win, and we didn’t take it,” said Dublin manager Anthony Daly afterwards. “You don’t get many chances to beat this Kilkenny team, but we had one. The players are very disappointed. That is the situation you want to create.
“Overall the league has been good for us, but June 6th (the championship clash with Antrim) is the only day that matters now.”
Dublin were game from the off. With midfielder John McCaffrey playing a starring role as a seventh defender behind centre back Ronan Fallon, they caused confusion in Kilkenny’s ranks. They also got off to a flying start, shooting 1-2 during the first three minutes.
David Treacy pointed after 50 seconds before Kevin Flynn finished a good move involving O’Callaghan and Treacy by firing home a goal. Kilkenny were struggling to win ball around the opposing forty or at midfield.
The difference was still five points at the end of the quarter (1-7 to 0-5) but Kilkenny were improving thanks to some great work by Larkin, Hogan and TJ Reid, who had been moved to full forward. The Cats drew level on the half hour mark (1-10 to 0-13) and they drove on smartly to lead 0-17 to 1-10 at the break, Henry Shefflin contributing eight points to their interval tally.
Dublin continued with the seven-man defensive formation after the break and with O’Callaghan scoring well and Joe Boland, Ronan Fallon and Treacy also showing top form, they continued to pose the hosts problems.
O’Callaghan settled for a point from a 57th-minute penalty after Liam Ryan was fouled. which cut the arrears to the minimum, 2-14 to 0-21. O’Callaghan’s second goal followed, but a failure to build on that score cost Dublin dearly.
“We were glad to get out of that one with a win,” said Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. “I have been saying it for years, there is great potential in Dublin. They showed here how dangerous they can be, and now they can look forward with confidence to the championship.”
KILKENNY: D Herity; C Hickey, J J Delaney, M Kavanagh; T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson; M Fennelly, P Murphy (0-1); TJ Reid (0-3), H Shefflin (0-11, nine frees); E Larkin (1-3); R Hogan (0-4), M Comerford (0-1), M Grace. Subs:J Tyrrell for T Walsh (55 mins), E Brennan for Grace (58 mins), J Fitzpatrick for Fennelly (62 mins), A Fogarty for P Murphy (yellow, 65 mins).
DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, M O'Brien, O Gough; S Hiney, R Fallon, M Carton; J McCaffrey, J Boland (0-3); S Durkan (0-1), L Ryan, L Rushe (0-1); D O'Callaghan (2-7, six points frees, one penalty), D Treacy (0-1), K Flynn (1-1). Subs: S Lambert for M Carton (yellow, 32 mins), D Curtin (0-1, free) for R Fallon (50 mins), P Carton for D Treacy (66).
Referee:B Gavin (Offaly).
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