Going back to the World War 2 years, Dublin hurling had just one win over Kilkenny in 70+ years. That came in 2013 in Portlaoise.
But Parnell Park was different. It often gets the name of a ‘Fortress’ despite being anything but. Perhaps the narrow sidelines or the once every decade when Dublin’s floating sporting support turns their lonely eyes to the county hurlers, then something feels like it’s brewing.
It’s brewing now. Brewing up a storm, baby.
Dublin will head into a Leinster final now against Galway on 6 June. You might think some of the lapsed football support in the county might come out to cheer on a team that you really could believe in.
They led here from the 20th minute with the second of John Bellew’s brace in under a minute.
Bellew only found out four minutes before the throw-in that he was coming in to start for the veteran Liam Rushe who suffered injury in the warm-up. It didn’t take a fidge out of him.
By half-time, an argument could be made that Dublin could/should have been out of sight. 15 scores. 11 wides. Those kind of figures, against Kilkenny, jump out.
Once the game settled, there was an acknowledgement from the crowd that the result would be a going concern. Early trepidation gave way to lusty cheering.
After the first ten minutes one sequence stood out. The ball exchanged possession a number of times and zipped around the place. At one stage, two consecutive ground strokes even broke out to the delight of all.
Conor Donohoe put an end to the untidiness by flaking over a neat point for Dublin to take the lead for the first time.
Dublin goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons put under some pressure by TJ Reid. Bryan Keane / INPHO
Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO
Tactically, there was a bit of sophistication here but so subtle as to have no huge reflection on the outcome.
Both teams allowed each other unfettered access on their own puckout. Dublin were to convert most of these opportunities into lorrying the ball on top of John Hetherton that paid off well at the start, faded a little, and then thrived again once he had Ronan Hayes alongside him.
Kilkenny were working through the lines, but very much hanging on to Dublin’s coattails, in particular Brian Hayes who ran the show with a mixture of graft and guile. At one stage in the second half, executing a roll lift while doing a knee slide towards his own goal.
0-11 to 0-15 down at the break, Kilkenny came hard but not for the only time in the game, Eoin Cody and TJ Reid were carrying the fight. In scoring 0-6 to 0-3 in the first 12 minutes of the second half, they narrowed the gap to a single point.
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Dublin were steadied by an inspirational score from Cian O’Sullivan and then from substitute Ronan Hayes.
In the next play, it was the Hayes Bros who combined to give Brian a sight of goal and his shot was turned around the post by Eoin Murphy, but for Donal Burke to convert the ‘65’.
Straight after, it was Ronan going through this time, apprehended illegally by Killian Doyle, that left referee Thomas Walsh with no option but to signal a penalty.
Burke drove it low to the net. Dublin were 1-21 to 0-17 ahead.
In previous years it might have signalled a collapse. But from this point on, they matched each other score for score. Kilkenny started drilling balls wide.
TJ Reid, who seemed to pull up momentarily with a calf strain in the first half, appeared to be hampered. John Donnelly had come on before half-time but had no effect on the game and even Adrian Mullen looked off-colour.
But that’s all excuses. Dublin’s attitude was of hunters. Kilkenny were big game Cats.
And they were savaged.
Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 1-11 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees, 2x ‘65’), John Hetherton, Conal Ó Riain 0-3 each, John Bellew, Cian O’Sullivan, Ronan Hayes 0-2 each, Brian Hayes, Conor Donohoe, Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-7 (0-4 frees, 1 x ‘65’), Eoin Cody 0-5, Cian Kenny 0-4, Killian Doyle, Tom Phelan 0-2 each, David Blanchfield, Martin Keoghan 0-1 each.
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Dublin dump Kilkenny out of Leinster and All-Ireland in sensational Parnell Park shock
Dublin 1-26
Kilkenny 0-22
IT HAPPENED. IT really happened.
Going back to the World War 2 years, Dublin hurling had just one win over Kilkenny in 70+ years. That came in 2013 in Portlaoise.
But Parnell Park was different. It often gets the name of a ‘Fortress’ despite being anything but. Perhaps the narrow sidelines or the once every decade when Dublin’s floating sporting support turns their lonely eyes to the county hurlers, then something feels like it’s brewing.
It’s brewing now. Brewing up a storm, baby.
Dublin will head into a Leinster final now against Galway on 6 June. You might think some of the lapsed football support in the county might come out to cheer on a team that you really could believe in.
They led here from the 20th minute with the second of John Bellew’s brace in under a minute.
Bellew only found out four minutes before the throw-in that he was coming in to start for the veteran Liam Rushe who suffered injury in the warm-up. It didn’t take a fidge out of him.
By half-time, an argument could be made that Dublin could/should have been out of sight. 15 scores. 11 wides. Those kind of figures, against Kilkenny, jump out.
Once the game settled, there was an acknowledgement from the crowd that the result would be a going concern. Early trepidation gave way to lusty cheering.
After the first ten minutes one sequence stood out. The ball exchanged possession a number of times and zipped around the place. At one stage, two consecutive ground strokes even broke out to the delight of all.
Conor Donohoe put an end to the untidiness by flaking over a neat point for Dublin to take the lead for the first time.
Tactically, there was a bit of sophistication here but so subtle as to have no huge reflection on the outcome.
Both teams allowed each other unfettered access on their own puckout. Dublin were to convert most of these opportunities into lorrying the ball on top of John Hetherton that paid off well at the start, faded a little, and then thrived again once he had Ronan Hayes alongside him.
Kilkenny were working through the lines, but very much hanging on to Dublin’s coattails, in particular Brian Hayes who ran the show with a mixture of graft and guile. At one stage in the second half, executing a roll lift while doing a knee slide towards his own goal.
0-11 to 0-15 down at the break, Kilkenny came hard but not for the only time in the game, Eoin Cody and TJ Reid were carrying the fight. In scoring 0-6 to 0-3 in the first 12 minutes of the second half, they narrowed the gap to a single point.
Dublin were steadied by an inspirational score from Cian O’Sullivan and then from substitute Ronan Hayes.
In the next play, it was the Hayes Bros who combined to give Brian a sight of goal and his shot was turned around the post by Eoin Murphy, but for Donal Burke to convert the ‘65’.
Straight after, it was Ronan going through this time, apprehended illegally by Killian Doyle, that left referee Thomas Walsh with no option but to signal a penalty.
Burke drove it low to the net. Dublin were 1-21 to 0-17 ahead.
In previous years it might have signalled a collapse. But from this point on, they matched each other score for score. Kilkenny started drilling balls wide.
TJ Reid, who seemed to pull up momentarily with a calf strain in the first half, appeared to be hampered. John Donnelly had come on before half-time but had no effect on the game and even Adrian Mullen looked off-colour.
But that’s all excuses. Dublin’s attitude was of hunters. Kilkenny were big game Cats.
And they were savaged.
Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 1-11 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees, 2x ‘65’), John Hetherton, Conal Ó Riain 0-3 each, John Bellew, Cian O’Sullivan, Ronan Hayes 0-2 each, Brian Hayes, Conor Donohoe, Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-7 (0-4 frees, 1 x ‘65’), Eoin Cody 0-5, Cian Kenny 0-4, Killian Doyle, Tom Phelan 0-2 each, David Blanchfield, Martin Keoghan 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Eddie Gibbons (Kilmacud)
2. Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barróg) 3. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf) 20. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna)
5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields) 21. John Bellew (Lucan Sarsfields) 7. Conor Burke (St Vincent’s)
8. Brian Hayes (Kilmacud) 12. Conor Donohoe (Erin’s Isle)
10. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud) 11. Donal Burke (Na Fianna) 15. Conor Ó Riain (Kilmacud)
13. David Purcell (Kilmacud) 26. John Hetherton (St Vincent’s) 14. Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s)
Subs:
18. Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud) for Purcell (39m)
25. Darragh Power (Fingalians) for Donohue (50m)
22. Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing (Commercials) for O’Sullivan (51m)
9. Conor Groarke (Cuala) for Whitely (70m)
23. Paddy Dunleavy (Ballyboden) for Crummey (72m)
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels) 3. Mikey Carey (Young Irelands) 4. Ivan Bolger (Graignamanagh)
5. David Blanchfield (Bennetsbridge) 6. Darragh Corcoran (Shamrocks Ballyhale) 7. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Killian Doyle (Emeralds) 9. Cian Kenny (James Stephens)
10. Liam Moore (Dicksboro) 11. Eoin Cody (Shamrocks Ballyhale) 12. Tom Phelan (Conahy Shamrocks)
13. Harry Shine (Dicksboro) 14. TJ Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale) 15. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
Subs:
26. John Donnelly (Thomastown) for Moore (33m)
21. Adrian Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale) for Shine (50m)
18. Richie Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale) for Bolger (51m)
25. Timmy Clifford (Dicksboro) for Doyle (54m)
22. Stephen Donnelly (Thomastown) for Keoghan (65m)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
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Cats Dubs Leinster Hurling Shock shock and awe