Dublin duly booked their place in the Division 1B Allianz Hurling League final and with it promotion after this comprehensive demolition of Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
The visitors streaked into an early lead with Paddy Smyth, Conor Burke, Paddy Doyle and Fergal Whitely all raising white flags. Carlow didn't score until the ninth minute when Marty Kavanagh found Ciaran Whelan who bisected the posts.
While all the Dublin starting forwards scored in the first half they were given a fright when Marty Kavanagh and Chris Nolan struck for two quality goals in the final minutes of the half.
From seeming to be cruising, Dublin now only led 0-18 to 2-09 at the interval. Most observers in the ground felt that the Dublin total was 0-19 but word from the match officials revealed that they had the visitors at one point less.
Dublin were quickly into their stride in the second 35. Substitute, Diarmaid O’Dulaing landed three frees. Ted Joyce and Nolan replied for Carlow but it was clear they were on a damage limitation exercise at that stage.
Home keeper, Kyle Foley, brought off two brilliant saves to deny Cian O’Sullivan and John Hetherton in that second half but that did not perturb the Metropolitans who were happy to take their scores from distance.
By the end, four Dublin substitutes, Davy Keogh, O’Dulaing, Conor Donohoe and Conor Groarke accounted for nine points of the Dublin total in the second half. The battle for places will surely be intense as they look forward to a final showdown against Clare in the first week of April.
Carlow: Kyle Foley; Conaill Fitzpatrick, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Fiach O'Toole (0-1); Ciaran Whelan (0-2), Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-2); Jack Treacy, Donagh Murphy (0-2), Marty Kavanagh (1-3 2fs); Richie Coady, John Doyle, Chris Nolan (1-2).
Subs: Ted Joyce (0-1) for J Doyle (h/t), Conor Kehoe for Murphy (49), James Doyle for Kavanagh (49), Colm Beck for Kealy (53), Jake Nolan (0-1) for Whelan (55).
Dublin: Sean Brennan; Conor McHugh, Paddy Smyth (0-1), Eoghan O’Donnell; Paddy Doyle (0-2), Chris Crummey (0-2), Andy Dunphy; Conor Burke (0-2), Brian Hayes; Fergal Whitely (0-5), Donal Burke (0-1), Darragh Power (0-3); Dara Purcell (0-2), John Hetherton (0-4), Cian O’Sullivan (0-3 2fs).
Subs: Diarmaid O’Dulaing (0-4 3fs) for D Burke (h/t), Conor Groarke (0-1) for Dunphy (h/t), Sean Gallagher for Burke (41 blood), Conor Donohoe (0-2) for Purcell (52), Davy Kehoe (0-2) for Hayes (60), Gallagher for Crummey (65).
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
