Flashback: Dublin v Kilkenny - Leinster Championship 2013

Dublin face Kilkenny once again at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon, and memories of their Leinster semi-final encounters in 2013 will undoubtedly provide plenty of belief for the Boys in Blue as they look to keep their unbeaten record going.

In the drawn semi-final, Kilkenny escaped a major upset after a dramatic last-minute point from TJ Reid earned them a 1-14 to 0-17 draw against Dublin at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.

The boys in blue appeared on course for a famous victory when Joey Boland converted a late free deep into injury time to edge the Dubs ahead. However, Kilkenny responded immediately from the resulting puck-out. The ball dropped dangerously into the Dublin defence, and Reid capitalised on hesitation at the back to fire over the equalising point with the final play of the game.

The sides were level at 0-8 apiece at half-time, with Dublin enjoying the advantage of a strong wind in the opening period. Kilkenny made the brighter start through scores from Eoin Larkin and Walter Walsh, but Dublin gradually settled and began to dominate possession around midfield.

Walsh’s powerful second-half goal looked to have swung momentum back towards the All-Ireland champions, yet Dublin refused to fade. Excellent performances from Boland, Conal Keaney and Shane Durkin kept the pressure on Kilkenny, while defender Peter Kelly delivered an outstanding display at full-back.

In a thrilling closing spell, both teams traded late scores before Reid’s dramatic equaliser ensured the rivals would meet again in a replay the following weekend, as the game ended 1-14 to 0-17.

Seven days later, Dublin returned with purpose and composure to deliver a famous victory, ending a 71-year wait for a championship win over the Cats.

From the throw-in, Dublin played with aggression and confidence. Keaney, Paul Ryan and Dotsy O’Callaghan were central to a blistering opening spell that saw the Dubs establish a commanding early lead and put Kilkenny firmly on the back foot.

As expected, Kilkenny refused to fade quietly. Colin Fennelly helped ignite the response, while Eoin Larkin began to find space and scores as the Leinster champions slowly worked their way back into the contest.

Despite Kilkenny’s resurgence, Dublin regrouped impressively before the break. O’Callaghan landed an important late point to steady the momentum and send Dublin into half-time with a four-point cushion.

The visitors emerged with far greater intensity in the second period. Richie Power drove Kilkenny forward as they chipped away at the deficit, forcing Dublin into a battle of resilience and concentration.

With tensions rising, both sides exchanged scores in a fiercely competitive spell, and Kilkenny eventually reduced the margin to a single point as the game edged towards a dramatic finale.

But Dublin produced the defining moment of the afternoon when Danny Sutcliffe reacted quickest inside the square, finishing emphatically to the net after O’Callaghan’s effort had initially been stopped on the line.

Even then, Kilkenny continued to threaten. Larkin kept the pressure on with crucial scores, but their hopes suffered a major setback when Richie Power received a red card late in the game.

Dublin held firm through a wave of late pressure, with Liam Rushe delivering several crucial defensive interventions to deny Kilkenny a route back into the match. Eamonn Dillon had the final word, converting a free to complete a memorable Dublin victory and secure their place in the Leinster final with a 1-16 to 0-16 victory.

Dublin later beat Galway in the provincial final to lift the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the first time in more than five decades.

Their championship journey eventually concluded at the All-Ireland semi-final stage against Cork.

Drawn semi- final teams and scorers 

Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, C Fogarty; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan, M Rice, C Buckley, R Power, E Larkin (0-07, frees); W Walsh (1-04), R Hogan (0-02), C Fennelly

Subs: P Hogan for P Murphy (33 mins), TJ Reid (0-01) for Rice (HT), A Fogarty for Fennelly (59), M Ruth for Power (62)

Dublin: G Maguire; P Schutte (0-01), P Kelly, N Corcoran; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J McCaffrey (0-01), J Boland (0-09, 0-07 frees); C Keaney (0-1), R O’Dwyer, D Sutcliffe (0-01); P Ryan (0-01, free), C McCormack, D Treacy

Subs: D O’Callaghan (0-01) for Ryan (18 mins), Mark Schutte (0-01) for McCormack (HT), S Durkin (0-01) for Sutcliffe (46), S Lambert for Treacy (57), E Dillon for Hiney (62)

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)

Replay teams and scorers

Scorers for Dublin: Paul Ryan 0-8 (0-6f), David O’Callaghan 0-4, Danny Sutcliffe 1-0, Conal Keaney, Shane Durkin, Mark Schutte, Eamonn Dillon (0-1f) 0-1 each

Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Larkin 0-12 (0-11f, 0-1 ’65), Richie Power 0-2, Colin Fennelly, TJ Reid 0-1 each

DUBLIN: Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte; Stephen Hiney, Liam Rushe, Michael Carton; Johnny McCaffrey, Joey Boland; Conal Keaney, Ryan O’Dwyer, Danny Sutcliffe; Paul Ryan, David O’Callaghan, David Treacy

Subs: Conor McCormack for O’Dwyer (HT), Shane Durkin for Boland (46), Mark Schutte for Treacy (48), Eamonn Dillon for Ryan (64), Simon Lambert for McCaffrey (69)

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Jackie Tyrell, JJ Delaney, Conor Fogarty; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Kieran Joyce; Cillian Buckley, Richie Power; Richie Hogan, Michael Rice, Eoin Larkin; Walter Walsh, TJ Reid, Aidan Fogarty

Subs: Lester Ryan for Buckley (22 mins), Colin Fennelly for Rice (26), Matthew Ruth for W Walsh (60), Padraig Walsh for Tyrell (60), Ger Aylward for Reid (64)

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)