U20 Hurlers Fall to Defeat to Kilkenny in Leinster Semi Final

DUBLIN 2-13

KILKENNY 1-22

An injury-hit Dublin failed to advance to their third successive Fulfil Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship final as they succumbed to holders Kilkenny by six points at Parnell Park on Wednesday night.

In what was a repeat of last year’s decider, the teams entered the break on level terms at 1-9 apiece with Patrick Lacey’s early goal for Kilkenny cancelled out by George O’Toole.  

The visitors cruised through the third quarter, scoring seven points on the bounce to effectively settle the issue with a goal in added time from Luke Hayes arriving too late to spare Dublin their fate.

The hosts played with a strong breeze in the opening half and took the lead through Aron Gargan’s 2nd minute point.

Kilkenny levelled soon after through Ed Lauhoff and edged in front through Patrick Lacey in the 4th minute.

Their fortunes improved further soon after as home goalkeeper Sean O’Neill failed to deal with a delivery from deep and Lacey was on hand to pick up the pieces and crash home into the top corner.  

Dublin clawed their way back into contention through the scoring prowess of Daniel O’Kelly, with the Commercials attacker popping over three points in quick succession by way of riposte.

O’Kelly added two further scores from distance by the end of the first quarter to restore parity before the visitors regained their lead courtesy of Lauhoff and Darragh Vereker.

While O’Kelly added another cracking point from downtown, highlighting the breeze at Dublin’s backs in the process, Kilkenny continued to enjoy a marginal edge through further scores by Ed McDermott and Lacey.

The hosts finally landed a significant body blow in the 25th minute as Gargan released O’Toole down the right flank and his powerful finish from twelve metres left Jake O’Doherty helpless in the away goal.

Lacey continued to impress at the opposite end with two unanswered scores but Dublin ensured we entered the break deadlocked following late points by James Norris and Gargan.

The visitors wasted little time in availing of the breeze in their favour with two Jake Mullen points augmented by further scores from Greg Kelly and Lacey.

The latter added three further points by the 40th minute to push Kilkenny seven points clear before Dublin opened their second-half account through Gargan two minutes later.

By this stage, Dublin were fighting for honour and continued to battle right to the final whistle but points by Tommy Cullen, Jack Kennedy and O’Toole along with Hayes’ goal were an insufficient return for their pressure in the final quarter.

Scorers – Dublin: D O’Kelly 0-6 (1f, 1 ’65); G O’Toole 1-1; L Hayes 1-0; A Gargan 0-3; J Kennedy, J Norris, T Cullen 0-1 apiece. Kilkenny: P Lacey 1-10 (0-6f); E Lauhoff, K Buggy, J Mullen 0-2 each; D Vereker, J Conlon, J Dollard, G Kelly, E McDermott, R Sweeney 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S O’Neill; L Mooney, M Pappalardo, C Quinn; C O’Flynn, J Sheppard, T Cullen; K Costello, F Donohoe; G O’Toole, D O’Kelly, J Norris; T Higgins, A Gargan, F Murphy. Subs: D Kilduff for Higgins (half-time), L Hayes for Norris (49), J Kennedy for Murphy (53), W Wheatley for O’Flynn (56), M Tierney for Cullen (58).

Kilkenny: J O’Doherty; M Ahern, R Garrett, D Vereker; J Conlon, J Dollard, M Rohan; D Barcoe, B Nevin; A Clifford, E Lauhoff, G Kelly; J Mullen, E McDermott, P Lacey. Subs: E Murphy for Barcoe (Temp, 17-18), Murphy for Barcoe (half-time), K Buggy for Rohan (Temp, 34-36), Buggy for Clifford (Temp, 43), O O’Donovan for Kelly (50), Clifford for Mullen (52), R Sweeney for Lauhoff (53), L Raggett for Nevin (60).

Referee: Matthew Farrell (Offaly).