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Kilkenny make light work of Dubs to add to Leinster haul

Updated / Friday, 5 Jul 2024 11:15

A 76th Leinster title for Kilkenny, and by far the most comfortable final victory since the Cats were at the peak of their powers in the midst of their run of four All-Irelands in a row between 2006 and 2009.

This was arguably even easier than some of those wins, as it was done and dusted by half-time, and they could afford to step back and cruise through the second 35 minutes, while Dublin saved a small amount of pride with some good scores, including a close range goal for Mark Grogan.

The first half, however, was one-way traffic and it was devastating. Richie Reid controlled play from centre back, Cian Kenny was a bundle of energy at midfield and up front, Adrian Mullen made his value evident with six first-half points from play in his first appearance since their championship opener against Antrim.

After the opening score from a TJ Reid free was cancelled out by a superb strike from Chris Crummey on the Cusack Stand sideline, Eoin Cody darted in to fire in the game's first goal and it was soon evident that Dublin were not at the same level in any facet of play.

Crummey and his full back line of Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth and John Bellew tried manfully to plug gaps, but further outfield it was a bloodbath, with Kilkenny controlling every battle.

Eoin Cody celebrates his opening goal

1-05 was on the Kilkenny side of the scoreboard after seven minutes, and when Paddy Deegan sent a long, low percentage shot wide of the posts, it stood out because it was so out of character for the team in a period in which their hurling was utterly clinical.

John Donnelly and Martin Keoghan weighed in with impressive points while Kenny seemed to pop up everywhere he was needed, but the ease with which Mullen just fired over one score after another showed that Kilkenny will be a completely different team with the Ballyhale man back in harness.

Dublin didn’t help their cause with some poor touches and some dreadful scoring attempts, and by the time Dara Purcell gave the Hill something to shout about with an elegant point on the run in the 20th minute, they were in deep trouble.

Four minutes later Seán Brennan spilled a long free, TJ Reid pounced to whip in the 33rd goal of his long and storied championship career, and the lead was double figures. Donal Burke hit the target with a couple of frees, one of which saw Dublin shout for a penalty and black card as David Blanchfield brought him down from behind as he bore down on goal, but at the other end, the scores kept coming.

Mullen added another three, and the lack of pressure was clear to see when Cian Kenny shot his third of the half after taking a layoff from TJ – a score that was secured despite three Dublin players pressuring the two men, and the ball getting fumbled three times.

A Blanchfield block on a Dublin handpass gave Mullen his sixth of the game just before the break, and with their work done, Kilkenny were a shadow of themselves in the second half, allowing Dublin to work their way back into the game.

Reid still had time to add a second goal, ruthlessly blasting past Brennan after the Dublin goalkeeper tried to play a short puckout to Paddy Smyth, but the Dubs captain didn’t read the script and had his back turned, allowing Mullen to float in a simple pass to his club colleague.

Points from Blanchfield, Walter Walsh and Reid were among the highlights in the last 20 minutes, as was Donal Burke’s excellent catch under pressure to set up Grogan for the Dublin goal, but as a contest overall, it was pedestrian. Kilkenny’s first half masterclass made sure of that.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Blanchfield (0-01), Richie Reid, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny (0-04), Paddy Deegan; Adrian Mullen (0-07), TJ Reid (2-06, 0-03 frees), John Donnelly (0-03); Martin Keoghan (0-03), Eoin Cody (1-01), Billy Ryan (0-01).

Subs: Shane Murphy for Carey (28), Tom Phelan (0-01) for Ryan (46), Jordan Molloy for Lawlor (64), Walter Walsh (0-01) for Mullen (64), Conor Fogarty for Kenny (64).

Dublin: Seán Brennan; Paddy Smyth (0-01), Eoghan O'Donnell, John Bellew (0-01); Chris Crummey (0-01), Conor Donohoe, Paddy Doyle; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke (0-03); Danny Sutcliffe (0-01), Dara Purcell (0-02), Fergal Whitely; Donal Burke (0-08, 0-07 frees), Seán Currie, Ronan Hayes.

Subs: Darragh Power (0-01) for Whitely (16-17, temp), Daire Gray for Doyle (half-time), Darragh Power for Currie (half-time), Mark Grogan (1-00) for Whitely (half-time), Colin Currie for R Hayes (53), James Madden for B Hayes (62).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).

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