Leinster SHC- Late Cody goal gives Cats crucial win over Dublin

A late Eoin Cody goal saw Kilkenny claim a dramatic Leinster Championship success over Dublin at a sunny Parnell Park.

A goal in each half from the midfield pairing of Brian Hayes and Conor Burke had originally put the home side in a great position but Kilkenny fought to the end and helped by Cody's flicked finish and seven points from play by John Donnelly, Derek Lyng's team moved to the top of the round-robin group.

It was a contest that ebbed and flowed from one end to the other all the way through and while Kilkenny looked to be in control for a fair portion of the opening half, they couldn't get away from the Metropolitans on the scoreboard and Conor Burke's goal meant the Cats only led by the minimum at the halfway mark (0-16 to 1-12).

Eoin Cody and John Donnelly looked very sharp in attack for Kilkenny during that opening spell but gradually Dublin began to get a grip on proceedings and backed by the majority of the 7,000 attendance, the leading margin got more delicate.

A Brian Hayes goal in the 55th minute gave Dublin a three point advantage but instead of acting as a catalyst to kick on to victory, the Noresiders responded with the next three points as scores from Donnelly and TJ Reid levelled up matters.

A Conor Burke point did edge the Dubs back in front with less than five minutes remaining but Kilkenny know how to get the job done more often than not and after Billy Ryan knocked over the equaliser, Donnelly got his name on the scoresheet once again.

Donal Burke's tenth converted placed ball of the evening looked like the sides may share the spoils but Kilkenny had none of that type of talk and after great work by Paddy Deegan and Billy Ryan in the build-up, Eoin Cody flicked the sliotar past Sean Brennan for a vital goal.

Donal Burke got a point back in response but Kilkenny stood firm to secure their second win of the campaign and they are in pole position to seal a Leinster Final spot ahead of their final game with Wexford next Sunday.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- TJ Reid (0-8, 7fs); John Donnelly (0-7); Eoin Cody (1-3); Martin Keoghan, David Blanchfield (0-3 each); Cian Kenny (0-2); Mikey Carey, Billy Ryan (0-1 each)

Dublin- Donal Burke (0-14, 9fs and 2 65's); Conor Burke (1-1); Brian Hayes (1-0); Chris Crummey, Danny Sutcliffe (0-3 each); Cian O'Sullivan (0-2)

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Shane Murphy, Paddy Deegan, David Blanchfield; Cian Kenny, Mikey Carey; John Donnelly, Eoin Cody, Tom Phelan; Mossy Keoghan, TJ Reid, Owen Wall.

Subs- Billy Ryan for Wall, h-t; Richie Reid for Murphy, 41 mins; Conor Fogarty for Phelan, 58 mins; Cillian Buckley for Carey, 68 mins.

Dublin- Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Eoghan O'Donnell, Paddy Smyth; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe, Paddy Smyth; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Sean Currie; Fergal Whiteley; Cian O'Sullivan, Ronan Hayes.

Subs- Paul Crummey for O'Sullivan, 43 mins; Darragh Power for Whiteley, 48 mins; Daire Gray for Doyle, 62 mins; Jake Malone for Currie, 64 mins; Dara Purcell for R.Hayes, 68 mins.

Referee- Johnny Murphy (Limerick)