TJ Reid registered a fantastic 2-12 as he led Kilkenny to a thrilling win over Dublin in a sizzling Leinster senior hurling championship opener at sunny Nowlan Park this evening.
The Cats put in a powerful second half display, with Reid leading the way, shooting two goals as Brian Cody's team took a giant step forward despite being severely weakened by injury in the lead up to the game.
The Kilkenny boss gave a championship debut to five players and they were made earn their keep as Dublin let rip.
The action was fast and furious from the start. The opening two points were shared by Alan Murphy and David Treacy, from a free.
Things remained even until Dublin hit the front with a goal from a penalty in the eighth minute. From there, they visitors grabbed the initiative, often out-working and out-running the opposition.
The penalty was earned when Liam Rushe was fouled after taking a pass from Fergal Whitely. Centre-back Sean Moran lashed the ball into the net to shoot them 1-03 to 0-03 in front.
Kilkenny hung in there and points from Alan Murphy and Walter Walsh had the gap back to the minimum. It was the same on the quarter hour, but when Dublin put a pair of points together through Danny Sutcliffe and Sean Moran (free) the .
Padraig Walsh charged up the field for a good Kilkenny score in the 22nd minute, but Dublin’s response was emphatic.
Sutcliffe, Rushe, Treacy and Fergal Whitely all landed points to push their advantage out to six points, their biggest lead at any stage of the contest.
Tempers flared following a bizarre incident just before half-time when TJ Reid, standing over a 25 metre free, opted to take it quick to Billy Ryan to his right.
Dublin selector Greg Kennedy - a former All-Ireland finalist with Galway (2001) - was on the field dispensing advice to his players and happened to be standing in front of Ryan when the free was quickly taken. He proceeded to catch the ball, sparking a mixture of bemusement and anger in the crowd and on the sideline. The free was re-taken but not before Brian Cody confronted Kennedy on his journey back to the sideline.
Reid pointed the re-take to stall Dublin's momentum a tad, only for the away side to almost goal seconds later, Paul Ryan sending a bullet of a shot wide of the left upright.
Rushe won a second penalty in the 34th minute when fielding a high ball from Chris Crummey. Sean Moran was this time content to lash the ball high over the bar, leaving the Dubs in a 1-13 to 0-12 lead at the break.
Kilkenny restructured their team in the second half, and with Padraig Walsh at centre-back and Huw Lawlor at full they looked much more settled and were able to generate a lot more power.
The winners earned parity in the 46th minute when Reid played a lovely 1-02 with club colleague, Colin Fennelly before lashing the ball to the net.
Twice subsequently, the scores were level but Kilkenny hit for home in the 56th minute when they goaled again. Colin Fennelly won possession when getting to the end of a delivery from Lawlor, and when he was fouled Reid shot the Cats into a 2-16 to 1-17 lead from a penalty.
The home side never looked back from there and eventually surged clear to win by five points.
Kilkenny - Darren Brennan; Paul Murphy, Paddy Deegan, Tommy Walsh (0-01); Enda Morrissey, Huw Lawlor, Conor Fogarty; Padraig Walsh (0-01), Alan Murphy (0-03); Adrian Mullen (0-01), Walter Walsh (0-01), TJ Reid (2-12, 1-00 pen, 0-11f); Billy Ryan, Colin Fennelly, Ger Aylward (0-02).
Subs: Richie Leahy (0-02) for Morrissey h-t; Richie Hogan for Ryan (39).
Dublin - Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Tomas Connolly (0-01); Chris Crummey (0-02), Sean Moran (1-02, 1-01 pen, 0-01f), Shane Barrett; Sean Treacy (0-01), Darragh O’Connell (0-01); David Treacy (0-06, 0-06f), Danny Sutcliffe (0-04), Fergal Whitely (0-02); Paul Ryan (0-01), Liam Rushe (0-01), Eamon Dillon.
Subs: Riain McBride for T Connolly (50); Conal Keaney for P Ryan (60); Cian Boland for S Treacy (65); Jake Malone for D Treacy (71); Ronan Hayes for Rushe (73)
