Gaelic Games/ Walsh Cup Kilkenny 1-14 Dublin 1-13: A cold, unhurried afternoon in Parnell Park yesterday was briefly shifted out of season and taken close to a summer-like frenzy.
With time almost up and still nothing to separate Dublin and Kilkenny, this Walsh Cup quarter-final surpassed its actual significance: the home team were fuelled by new resolutions, and the All-Ireland specialists were typically protective of their reputation.
Both teams hurled as if they'd pledged personally not to lose, and, tied at 1-13 apiece, the air was thick with excitement before Henry Shefflin delivered the winner for Kilkenny. Set up by Michael Kavanagh, he battled around two Dublin defenders and sent the ball flying between the posts. Two nervous minutes later - with each team increasing their wide count by one - the referee called time.
While Kilkenny looked relieved, Dublin could be consoled by the fact that they'd played the sharper, more meaningful hurling, particularly in the first half, when they rocketed into a 1-9 to 0-5 lead and generally outplayed their revered opponents. All this could probably even leave manager Humphrey Kelleher on a bit of a high.
"No, I wouldn't be satisfied with that," he responded. "I've never met anyone satisfied with a loss."
But then with an obvious reference to some recent deserters of his cause, Kelleher praised his men as if faithful soldiers: "Dublin hurling is about what happens on the pitch, and the guys I had out there proved they are capable of playing with the best. All we've got to do is work - work hard - and it can come good for us.
"Parts of that performance were good, but it also showed we are a long way off from where we can be. I'm hopeful the training schedule that we have in place now will rectify that. And this team does have spirit. And any team I have will."
Clearly Kelleher is determined to harden the reputation of his team, and possibly even himself. And there was a fresh edge to Dublin yesterday. Only two players - Stephen Hiney and Carl Meehan - were on the team that beat Kilkenny in this competition two years ago, and most of the new faces showed real potential.
Heading that list was David Curtin, who collected 0-8 in total and whose six frees flew neatly between the posts like birds. The unheralded full back line of Ger O'Meara, Tom Russell and Seán O'Shea generally held out against Shefflin, Richie Power, Derek Lyng and company. Emmet Carroll also illustrated his raw speed and collected a fine goal for Dublin on 28 minutes.
Two Dublin minors from last year, Eoin Moran and Alan McCrabbe, were also well up for the demands of playing Kilkenny. All in all Kelleher has a reasonable panel on his hands, and defeat here mightn't necessarily be a bad thing - especially if they can carry this determination throughout the league.
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody wheeled out most of his regular players, simply because of the convenience. They returned from holiday just over a week ago and looked suitably rusty for a long while. Only when Shefflin collected their goal before half-time did they find their feet, and the gradual improvement in Lyng, Power and Martin Comerford ultimately secured their win.
"It was a good old battle," said Cody. "Dublin were very good, but I'm always saying that they have great potential. It's a good start to the year for us, because the lads had to stick at it. And that's all I was looking for at the moment, a genuine effort from everyone."
As the second half progressed so did Kilkenny's confidence, but on 47 minutes Power drew them level. Dublin were soon three points down before another Curtin free, a Risteard Brennan point, and a sweet 65 from Curtin took them level again.
Yet that was as good as it got, as Shefflin's class once again saved Kilkenny's skins.
KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Phelan, J Tennyson, N Hickey; M Kavanagh, J Ryall, JJ Delaney; C Herity, M Comerford (0-3); R Power (0-3, two frees), D Lyng (0-3), J Maher; A Fogarty, J Hoyne, H Shefflin (1-5, two frees). Subs: J Fitzpatrick for Maher, W O'Dwyer for Fogarty (both 44 mins), B Hogan for Ryall (58 mins).
DUBLIN: G Maguire; G O'Meara, T Russell, S O'Shea; C Meehan, R Fallon, M Carton; R Brennan (0-1), G Bennett; D Curtin (0-8, six frees, one 65), S Mullen, E Moran (0-1); E Carroll (1-2), S Hiney (0-1), A McCrabbe. Subs: F Chambers for Moran (36 mins, sin binned), D O'Reilly for Bennett (47 mins), M Breathnach for Mullen (50 mins), T McGrane for McCrabbe (59 mins), K Elliott for Russell (67 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)
