DUBLIN 2-18 KILKENNY 1-19
DUBLIN RESCUED A thrilling 2-18 to 1-19 extra-time victory over Kilkenny in their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final at Parnell Park this afternoon.
After Edmund Delaney had opened the scoring with a sublime sideline cut in the 3rd minute, Dublin assumed control for the ensuing five minutes but failed to acknowledge that on the scoreboard.
Mark O’Keeffe spurned a brace of presentable goal chances in the opening five minutes before Johnny McGuirk eventually restored parity through a sixth minute free.
McGuirk was experiencing difficulties in terms of his placed balls, however, as two were struck wide in quick succession, before he added the first score from play after 14 minutes.
Kilkenny gradually began to make inroads as the half progressed and they moved three points clear by the 20th minute after a fine John Donnelly score and two frees from Delaney.
After a shaky start, Kilkenny’s full-back line was beginning to dominate with Jordan Molloy and Tommy Walsh excelling as Donnelly tagged on another classy score soon after.
The half ended with Donnelly adding his third point before two late frees by Colin Currie trimmed Dublin’s deficit to four points (0-8 to 0-4) by the interval.
Two further frees by Currie upon the restart offered Dublin a degree of momentum but Kilkenny managed to keep their noses in front through three excellent points by Adrian Mullen.
As the intensity was raised a notch, Dublin added points through Daire Gray and Conor Ryan but with Mullen and Donnelly in exceptional form, the visitors looked to have sealed the win through the latter’s 58th-minute point.
However, in injury time, Donal Burke was on the end of Ryan’s sideline cut with his arrowed finish past Liam Dunphy ensuring the contest went to extra-time.
The hosts kept the initiative through a wonderful Currie goal in the 68th minute with Shane Mahony’s goal in reply arriving too late to spare the holders’ fate.
Meanwhile, in today’s other semi-final, Wexford defeated Offaly 2-24 to 2-13 in Tullamore.
Rory O’Connor was ultimately the hero for his side, as he registered an impressive individual tally of 2-10.
Wexford will now play Dublin in the final on 3 July at Croke Park.
Scorers – Dublin: C Currie 1-10 (0-10f), D Burke 1-1, J McGuirk (0-1f), C Dowling, D Gray 0-2 each, C Ryan 0-1. Kilkenny: A Mullen 0-8 (4f), E Delaney (0-3f, 0-1 sideline), J Donnelly 0-5 each, S Mahony 1-0, V Costello 0-1.
Dublin: D de Poire; J O’Neill, P Smyth, D Ryan; J McVeigh, C O’Sullivan, E Foley; C Ryan, D Keogh; C Burker, J McGuirk, D Gray; M O’Keeffe, C Dowling, C Currie. Subs: D Burke for McGuirk (24), C Byrne for Keogh (half-time), R Hayes for O’Keeffe (50), D Hawkshaw for McVeigh (54), A Mellett for Burke (61), P Feeney for Ryan (70), McVeigh for O’Sullivan (74).
Kilkenny: L Dunphy; J Molloy, T Walsh, V Costello; B Coady, D Mullen, J Connolly; E Delaney, C Kavanagh; J Donnelly, C Prendiville, S Bolger; A Mullen, J Bergin, S Buggy. Subs: S Mahony for Coady (41), M Keoghan for Bolger (50), T Whitty for Delaney (59), Bolger for Buggy (71).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)