Young Cats left to rue missed chances in second Leinster loss

The Kilkenny minor hurlers fell to a disappointing home defeat at the hands of Dublin in front of a decent crowd at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

The round three clash was the last game in the Leinster round-robin. The loss for the hosts means they go into a provincial quarter-final this weekend, rather than having the week off.

In many ways that will be the most frustrating aspect for the Kilkenny management team as they now have a longer route to a Leinster final as well as playing week to week and that has already taken its toll with a number of injuries in the squad.

This is a game that Kilkenny could have easily got a result in, but they proved to be very careless in front of goal, so much so that they only scored five points from play over the course of the hour’s action.

It was nip and tuck for much of the opening half and there was nothing to separate the sides nearing the end of the first quarter.

A point from play by Jake Connery, as well as two frees by Jake Mullen, had the Cats in a decent spot but it was from this point on that their shooting accuracy went to pieces as they ended the half with 11 wides.

Dublin were much more economical in their use of the ball and they deservedly led by three approaching the half-time interval with Rory Flannery pulling the strings at centre-forward, where he was ably assisted by James Norris, Darragh Kilduff, Killian Costello and Cathal Barrett who all got their names on the scorecard.

Kilkenny did end the half well with pointed efforts from Bill McDermott and Kevin Buggy. It was still very much to play for with the visitors only ahead by the minimum at the break (0-7 to 0-6).

Kilkenny had time to compose themselves in the dressing rooms in the hopes of producing a second half display like the one against Wexford but within two minutes of the restart they were chasing again as Kilmacud Crokes star Flannery continued to inflict damage with two quickfire points.

Eoin Brennan, who had taken up the free-taking duties from Mullen after he missed a pair of difficult attempts from range, replied for Niall Bergin’s team. With Conor Holohan also scoring from play, the Noresiders looked well positioned to strike.

The confidence and swagger that was on show in the opening round victory over Galway has gone missing though and they never really looked like reeling Dublin in as the winners continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Flannery and Costello quickly pushed the margin back out to three points and while a Robbie Doherty point briefly gave Kilkenny hope, the side in Blue and Navy sensed the opportunity at their disposal, as they did most of the hurling in the final 20 minutes.

Doherty’s point in the 45th minute was to be Kilkenny’s last from play as their challenge weakened in the final few minutes.

Brennan did knock over three more frees to bring his second half tally to four points, but Dublin had already eyed up a semi-final spot by that point. Flannery, who ended with 11 points in total, and sub Ben O’Mahony put the icing on the cake for the visitors as they secured a fully merited 0-17 to 0-12 success.

While Dublin are now assured of at least two more games and a place in the All-Ireland series, the Kilkenny story is a very different one as they travel to Newbridge to face Kildare on Friday in a Leinster quarter-final where only a win will keep their season alive.

Teams and Scorers

Dublin - Rory Flannery (0-11, 0-8 frees); Killian Costello (0-2); Cathal Barrett, Darragh Kilduff, James Norris, Ben O’Mahony (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Eoin Brennan (0-4, frees); Jake Mullen (0-3, frees); Kevin Buggy, Robbie Doherty, Jake Connery, Conor Holohan, Bill McDermott (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock); Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), David Barcoe (Clara); Eoin Brennan (Erin’s Own), Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own); Jake Mullen (Shamrocks), Eoghan Cahill (Graigue Ballycallan), Robbie Doherty (Mooncoin); Jake Connery (Erin’s Own), Conor Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Bill McDermott (James Stephens).

Subs: Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes) for McDermott, 42 mins; Cian Donnelly (St Lachtain’s) for Cahill, 52 mins; Louis Raggett (Dicksboro) for Doherty, 59 mins.

Dublin - Padraig Ryan; Mark Byrne, Shane Dunphy, Rory Duffy; Conor Quinn, Cathal O’Flynn, Dean Simpson; Fiachra Codd, James Norris; Tom Higgins, Rory Flannery, Eoghan Brennan; Darragh Kilduff, Killian Costello, Cathal Barrett.

Subs: Oscar Brennan for E Brennan, 22 mins; Conaill O’Sullivan for Barrett, 41 mins; Fionn Daly for Codd, 46 mins; Evan Ferguson for Costello, 54 mins; Adam Ryan for Higgins, 57 mins; Ben O’Mahony for Ferguson, 61 mins.

Referee - Derek Ryan (Louth).