It wasn't the most convincing performance or victory for defending champions, Kilkenny, but this success at UPMC Nowlan Park has left them within touching distance of a place in the Leinster senior hurling championship final.
Dublin were defiant and full of heart throughout, but the concession of six points between the 54th and 65th minutes when they fell 0-24 to 0-16 behind after being a mere two in arrears more or less took the game beyond them.
Kilkenny now head to Wexford Park next weekend where a division of the spoils or a good run of results elsewhere would suffice to edge them through to the final. Dublin, meanwhile, can still make the All-Ireland series as they welcome Galway to Croke Park.
Kilkenny were very unsure in their play during the opening quarter when they missed simple catches, misdirected passes and over-ran a lot of ball. Lively Dublin took advantage, and after the teams swapped early points the visitors led a lot of the way.
With championship top scorer Donal Burke to the fore and hitting the target twice, the Dubs opened out a 0-04 to 0-01 lead with the help of an additional score from Danny Sutcliffe. The visitors were still looking good passing the 21 minute mark when Mark Grogan worked hard for a point to leave them leading by 0-08 to 0-05.
However, during the following nine minutes the Cats roared back to turn that deficit into a 0-11 to 0-08 lead by the half hour mark. TJ Reid, who scored six times during this half, was on fire and passed Patrick Horgan to become the Championship's all-time leading scorer. Another minor from Reid following a foul on Eoin Cody added to the advantage.
That blast from Kilkenny was followed by an exchange of points between Mark Grogan and home defender Mikey Butler to leave the home side leading by 0-13 to 0-09 at half-time.
Dublin were all business after the break. With the opposition again unsteady the Dubs picked off a hat-trick of points per Donal Burke (free), Daire Gray and Burke again to cut the gap to the minimum.
Kilkenny scored a badly needed point by newcomer Tom Phelan to help steady the ship, but they just couldn’t quell the fire in the Dublin bellies. The losers continued to threaten with Eoghan O’Donnell and Burke really pushing the cause, and when the latter converted a free in the 53rd minute the gap was down to 0-18 to 0-16. It was very much game on!
Kilkenny rose to the challenge. Paddy Deegan pointed to steady the ship. Richie Reid and TJ Reid added to the gains before Eoin Cody pointed.
The points continued to flow for the home side, with Adrian Mullen and TJ Reid scoring to open out what was more of less a match winning lead of 0-24 to 0-16 in the 65th minute.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; M Butler (0-01), H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield (0-01), R Reid (0-01), D Corcoran; A Mullen (0-02), P Deegan (0-03); M Phelan (0-03), J Donnelly, B Ryan (0-01); M Keoghan (0-02), TJ Reid (0-10), E Cody (0-02).
Subs: W Walsh for Ryan 52; C Kenny for Phelan 57; P Walsh for Corcoran 60; C Buckley for R Reid (inj) 63; B Drennan (0-01f) for TJ Reid 69.
Dublin: S Brennan; P Doyle, E O’Donnell (0-01), P Smyth; C Donohoe (0-01), C Burke, D Gray (0-01); M Grogan (0-02), C O’Leary; D Sutcliffe (0-02), D Burke (0-10, 8f), C Boland (0-01); S Currie (0-01), C O’Sullivan, P Crummey.
Subs: J Madden for Gray 45; A Considine for Crummey 48; J Bellew for Grogan 59; D Purcell (0-02) for Donohoe 62; D Power for O’Sullivan 66.
Referee: L Gordon (Galway).
