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Picture Courtesy Matthew Burke
DUBLIN 0-17
KILKENNY 2-21
Dublin’s hopes of securing their first ONeills.com Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship title since 2020 were dashed at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Wednesday evening as they fell to Kilkenny by ten points.
It was Kilkenny that held the initiative at half-time with goals in the first quarter from Rory Glynn and Aaron McEvoy leaving them well placed with a 2-9 to 0-9 lead at half-time.
The dismissal of Fionn Murphy in the opening minute of the second-half undermined any hopes of a Dublin comeback as their opponents ultimately held on with a fair degree of comfort.
Both teams took their time to settle as they each registered two early wides before Kilkenny eventually opened the scoring through a 5th minute point by Ed Lauhoff.
Dublin suffered a bigger blow in an instant as Glynn nipped in behind their defence and his low shot from an acute angle proved too much for Daniel Joyce in the Dubs goal.
Callum Graham replied with a smart point in the 6th minute before Glynn was afforded too much time once again as he restored his side’s four-point lead.
Dublin gained some traction through points by Conal Ó Riain and Joey Kinnane but their opponents dominated the early stages and put further distance between the teams in the 13th minute as McEvoy burst down the middle and left Joyce helpless with a rising shot from ten yards.
While Daniel O’Kelly popped over two frees at the opposite end, Dublin were guilty of some uncharacteristic handling errors, allowing Kilkenny to push further ahead through scores by McEvoy and Lauhoff.
A powerful Senan Crosbie shot was repelled by Stephen Manogue in the 20th minute but Dublin did manage to enjoy a purple patch later in the half with another excellent Ó Riain point preceding scores by O’Kelly (free), Brendan Kenny and Crosbie.
However, Kilkenny finished the half through a brace of placed balls from Michael Brennan, leaving them with a deserved six-point lead by the interval.
The dismissal of Murphy for a second yellow card in the opening action of the second-halfwas another dagger in the heart for Dublin’s chances and Kilkenny took little time in taking advantage as Brennan and Lauhoff added to their personal tallies.
While O’Kelly (free) and Graham replied with scores for Dublin, a spurt of three points within a minute including two by corner-back Darragh Vereker saw Kilkenny move further into the distance.
Dublin were in dire need of a goal at this stage and Kenny almost provided it with a trademark burst from deep but Manogue blocked his goal bound shot and his side continued to build on their lead with Brennan, Lauhoff and McPhillips all on target.
The Dubs kept battling away with Kinnane, David Lucey, Ó Riain and Kenny typifying their attitude and points from Ollie Gaffney and Crosbie were just reward for their efforts.
However, they had to concede second best on the day as Kilkenny secured the provincial title and advanced to an All-Ireland final meeting with Tipperary.
Scorers – Dublin: D O’Kelly (4f), S Crosbie (1f) 0-4 each; O Gaffney 0-3 (3f); C Graham, C Ó Riain 0-2 each; J Kinnane, B Kenny 0-1 apiece. Kilkenny: M Brennan 0-8 (5f, 1 ’65); R Glynn 1-2; A McEvoy 1-1; E Lauhoff 0-4; T McPhillips, D Vereker 0-2 each; E McDermott, A Ireland Wall 0-1 apiece.
Dublin: D Joyce, C Groarke, D Lucey, B Lynch; K Costello, C Ó Riain, J Sheppard; F Murphy, C Kennedy; J Kinnane, B Kenny, S Crosbie; C Graham, O Gaffney, D O’Kelly. Subs: N Fitzgerald for O’Kelly (41), J Norris for Graham (47), F Donohoe for Kennedy (52).
Kilkenny: S Manogue; I Bolger, R Garrett, D Vereker; E Lyng, J Neary, C Hickey; T McPhillips, S Bergin; E Lauhoff, A McEvoy, M Brennan; E McDermott, M Murphy, R Glynn. Subs: J Dollard for Bergin (half-time), A Ireland Wall for McDermott (48), M Ahern for Garrett (52), G Kelly for Murphy (56), J Hughes for Glynn (62).
Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).