The 2025 oneills.com All-Ireland U-20 hurling final will see Kilkenny take on Tipperary for the first time since 2008, when TJ Reid, Seamus Callanan, Colin Fennelly, Brendan Maher and Richie Hogan all featured in a star-studded decider that Kilkenny edged by 2-13 to 0-15 at Croke Park.
The Cats have had it all their own way throughout this championship and Wednesday's contest in Portlaoise was no different, with Rory Glynn’s goal in the fifth minute setting them on the way to a comprehensive 2-21 to 0-17 victory.
Dublin showed real signs of life in the run up to half-time when excellent points from Brendan Kenny and Senan Crosbie roused the crowd, but a second yellow card for midfielder Fionn Murphy after a clash at the second half throw-in left them with too much to do, and Kilkenny pushed on from there to edge a pedestrian second half by 0-10 to 0-06.
There were flashes of quality from the Cats in that second period with Ed Lauhoff, Darragh Vereker, Tom McPhillips and Anthony Ireland Wall getting the best of their scores, but the most important work was done at the other end of the field where a solid display in the full-back line and one fine save from Stephen Manogue to prevent Senan Crosbie from hitting the net ensuring that the Dubs never got the goal they needed.
Dublin supporters will acknowledge that Kilkenny were the better side in the first half too. Conal Ó Riain dropped back from his notional role at full-forward to operate as a sweeper but this only served to give Kilkenny more time to work the ball out of defence and to pick off points from range.
They looked sharp carrying the ball in too, with Eoghan Lyng earning a free that Michael Brennan converted before Aaron McEvoy got his strike away as he crashed to the ground at the end of a 20 metre run, firing the sliotar inside Daniel Joyce’s near post.
In their semi-final win over Galway, Callum Graham and Ollie Gaffney thrived in space as a two-man inside forward line but the tactic didn’t work as well here, and for the start of the second half, with Kilkenny 2-09 to 0-09 in front, Dublin manager Fintan Clandillon looked as if he was reverting to a more traditional formation.
That was until Murphy’s dismissal changed the arithmetic, and despite a trojan effort from players like Brendan Kenny, David Lucey and in particular Senan Crosbie in the second half, Kilkenny had far more balance and depth, and for the fourth game in a row this year, they had at least seven points to spare at the final whistle.
They’ve also yet to concede more than 18 scores in a game, while Tipperary have scored 22 or more in every match since their first round loss to Limerick. Something will give in the final, currently set for Saturday week.
Kilkenny: Stephen Manogue; Rory Garrett, Jeff Neary, Ivan Bolger; Seán Bergin, Eoghan Lyng, Cathal Hickey; Darragh Vereker (0-02), Tom McPhillips (0-02); Ed Lauhoff (0-04), Aaron McEvoy (1-01), Michael Brennan (0-08, 0-05 frees, 0-01 65); Ed McDermott (0-01), Marty Murphy, Rory Glynn (1-02).
Subs: Jack Dollard for Bergin (half-time), Anthony Ireland Wall (0-01) for McDermott (48), Micheál Ahern for Garrett (52), Greg Kelly for Murphy (55), James Hughes for Glynn (60+1).
Dublin: Daniel Joyce; Conor Groarke, David Lucey, Joe Sheppard; Killian Costello, Ben Lynch, Brendan Kenny (0-01); Fionn Murphy, Whilliam Wheatley; Daniel O’Kelly (0-04 frees), Joey Kinnane (0-01), Senan Crosbie (0-04, 0-01 free); Callum Graham (0-02), Conal Ó Ríain (0-02), Ollie Gaffney (0-03 frees).
Subs: Nathan Fitzgerald for O’Kelly (41), James Norris for Graham (47), Finnian Donohoe for Wheatley (52).
Referee: Eamon Furlong (Wexford).
Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and listen live on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch a hurling championship double-header, Dublin v Galway (2pm) and Cork v Waterford (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm
