Kilkenny opened their Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B campaign with an impressive 12-point victory, despite playing 45 minutes with 14 men.
Richie Leahy saw the line in the 26th minute for a frontal charge on Dublin captain Danny Sutcliffe but last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists still had way too much for a disappointing Dublin.
Leahy's dismissal didn't interrupt the Cats' flow this time - unlike last year's All-Ireland final, which was derailed by loss of Richie Hogan - as the opposition never made any advantage of their superior numbers.
In fact, the game was dying a slow death until it was eventually decided on the hour mark when Billy Ryan drilled home Kilkenny’s third goal. ’Keeper Alan Nolan made a valiant effort to stop the shot and got a hurley to the ball, but the sliotar got away from him and ended up in the net.
With the score at 3-18 to 0-16 it was all over for Dublin, who made no fist at all of using the extra man.
Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody, who fielded just six of his All-Ireland team, had to be happy with the performance and victory, which gives the Cats an early upper-hand in a group they have every chance of qualifying from.
The opening exchanges were very physical and the tackles went in thick and fast. Early points were traded before Oisin O'Rorke, who was to shoot five of the Dublin scores during this half, pointed a free to punish a foul on Danny Sutcliffe.
That was the only time the visitors led. On 11 minutes Ger Aylward scored a spectacular goal for Kilkenny, shooting on the turn from 14 metres on the right to finish a well-worked move started at the back by man of the match Paddy Deegan and continued by Billy Ryan and Walter Walsh.
The gap never went beyond three points until Kilkenny bagged a second goal in the 24th minute. This time the scorer was Ryan, who stole a short, slow hand-pass between two defenders before getting a run at the target from 40 metres.
Kilkenny were looking good when 2-06 to 0-06 clear, but within two minutes they were down to 14 men when Leahy was red carded for a high tackle on Sutcliffe. That foul was further punished by Ronan Hayes, who pointed the free from 65 metres.
The Cats brushed off the loss of a man and hit back for minors from Niall Brassil, who fielded the puck-out following the Hayes free, and Alan Murphy (free) to jump 2-08 to 0-07 clear.
Dublin made minor gains from there to the break, at which stage Kilkenny led by 2-10 to 0-10, with a fine contribution of six points from Alan Murphy, five frees.
Dublin opened the second half with a huge point from an 80 metre free by Sean Moran and then another from Eamon Dillon.
By the 44th minute Kilkenny had hit back for two from Brassil and Alan Murphy and they simply ran away from the opposition after that.
Kilkenny: E. Murphy; C.Wallace, H. Lawlor, C. Delaney; M. Cody, P. Deegan (0-02), M. Carey (0-01); C. Fogarty (0-02), A. Murphy (0-8, 7f, 65); J. Donnelly (0-01), W. Walsh (0-02), R. Leahy; B. Ryan (2-00), G. Aylward (1-0), N. Brassil (0-02).
Subs: M. Keoghan (0-01) for G. Aylward 46th min; J . Maher for A. Murphy (52) T. Walsh for Cody (57); B. Sheehan (0-01) for B. Ryan (60); L. Scanlon (0-01) for Brassil (65).
Dublin: A. Nolan; P. Smyth, E. O’Donnell, J. Madden;C. Crummey (0-01), D. Gray, C. O’Callaghan; F. Whitely, R. McBride (0-01); T. Connolly (0-01), D. Sutcliffe (0-01), R. Hayes (0-02, 1f); C. Boland, O. O’Rorke (0-06, 4f), E. Dillon (0-02).
Subs: S. Moran (0-04, 3f) for F. Whitely (30); Jake Malone for J. Madden (ht); Mark Schutte for C. Bolang (40); L. McMullen for T. Connolly (57); J. Hetherton for McBride (65).
Referee: P. O’Dwyer (Carlow).
