Kilkenny advance to Leinster Minor Final after narrow success over Dublin
Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 1-20
Kilkenny are into a fourth successive Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Final after seeing off Dublin in a thrilling last four clash in Parnell Park.
A Ruairi Power goal in the first minute of stoppage time proved crucial as the Cats gave themselves breathing room on the scoreboard before Dublin got the gap back to the minimum via a Richie Hession major with the last puck of the game.
Power's goal arrived in a spell of 1-3 without reply for Gordon Byrne's outfit and it ultimatley gave them the edge come the final whistle.
It was a nip and tuck contest all the way through with a Joe Dowling penalty giving the winners a narrow 1-10 to 0-11 advantage at the interval.
Dublin had began the game with three points on the spin and when they did likewise at the start of the second period, an upset looked to be on the cards with Kilkenny only scoring once during the third quarter.
Helped by the impact of Jamie Walsh off the bench, Kilkenny managed to turn the tide but Dublin still led with five minutes left on the clock as Richie Hession knocked over a couple of great scores.
Then came Kilkenny's late surge with Joe Dowling and James Kavanagh grabbing points before Power's match winning goal.
Hession notched 1-1 in reply for Dublin but it was all too late in the day as Kilkenny booked a final spot with Galway.
Teams and Scorers
Kilkenny: Joe Dowling (1-8, 5fs); Ruairi Power (1-2); Matthew Corr (0-3); Jack Bolger (0-2); James Kavanagh, Oliver Phelan, Jamie Walsh (0-1 each)
Dublin: Richie Hession (1-11, 8fs); Henry Greene (0-3); Brian Farrell, Jack Ledwidge, Sean Gavigan, Corey Kelly, Tommy Dillon, Conn McCluskey (0-1 each)
Kilkenny: Eoin O'Gorman (Carrickshock); Michael Meany (Clara), Sean Kavanagh (Dicksboro), Sean Corcoran (John Lockes); Paddy Grace (John Lockes), Jack Treacy (Dicksboro), Oliver Phelan (James Stephens); Jack Bolger (Barrow Rangers), Robert Lacey (Dicksboro); Joe Dowling (Dicksboro), Conn O'Neill Pembroke (Shamrocks Ballyhale), Matthew Corr (Danesfort); Ruairi Power (James Stephens), Brion Walsh (James Stephens), James Kavanagh (Dicksboro).
Subs: Jamie Walsh (Bennettsbridge) for Lacey, 38 mins; Gary McHugh (Barrow Rangers) for O'Neill Pembroke, 59 mins; Daniel Lawlor (Barrow Rangers) for Corr, 63 mins.
Dublin: Dara Stynes; Peter Cashin, Conor Nevin, Finn Reville; Tommy Dillon, James O'Keeffe, Derry Ware; Paul Batten, Corey Kelly; Sean Gavigan, Henry Greene, Jack Ledwidge; Richie Hession, Brian Farrell, Dan Ward.
Subs: Harry Homan for Dillon, 41 mins; Hugo Doyle for Dillon, 50 mins; Conn McCluskey for Gavigan, 50 mins; Joey Davy for Ward, 57 mins; Marc Dempsey for Batten, 60 mins.
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)