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kilkennyobserver.ie
Hurling matters
Sport BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz National Hurling League – Division 1 B Dublin 0-16 Kilkenny 2-23 @ Parnell Park
On a spring-like day in Parnell Park, Brian Cody’s team inflicted the first defeat of the year on Dublin, as the Cats put in their most complete performance of the season to date. Majors from Walter Walsh and Mossy Keoghan in the opening quarter of the second half put an end to any thoughts the home side might have had of extending their winning run in 2022. Kilkenny were by far and away the better team on the day. Their physicality and work-rate proved too much for Mattie Kenny’s side, who were a well off the pace throughout the contest, and actually failed to score from play in the 22 minutes leading up to the short whistle. Dublin were dealt a huge blow before throw-in when star defender, Eoghan O’Donnell was ruled out and was replaced in the starting XV by Sean Moran. O’Donnell is one of the top-rated full-backs in hurling, and his loss was sorely felt by the Metropolitans as they struggled to contain the Noresiders attack. The home side registered the first score of the day inside the opening minute, as a lovely diagonal ball into corner-forward Aidan Mellett, saw the Ballyboden attacker lay-off a nice pass to the supporting Rian McBride who fired over from out on the left wing. The visitors struck back immediately. A long ball into the Dublin defence was won by a blue shirt, but referee Paud O’Dwyer blew for some holding on a Kilkenny player, and this gave Glenmore’s Alan Murphy his first point of the day from the placed ball. Alan started the game in and around the midfield area, while Cillian Buckley looked to be roaming much further forward. Murphy doubled his tally moments later, when a Dublin defender was deemed to have over-carried, a decision which appeared slightly harsh on the home side. Another searching diagonal ball into the Dublin attack saw the ball arrive with Ronan Hayes, and the Kilmacud Crokes man fired over from out on the right side to level things up. Some loose play saw Padraig Walsh pick the ball up and find Paddy Deegan in space inside his own half. The O’Loughlin’s man arrowed a lovely pass into midfielder Cian Kenny, who’s shot split the posts to put Kilkenny back in the lead. The marginal decisions continued to go the way of the travelling team, as Dublin were blown-up for an illegal hand-pass, again somewhat harsh it appeared. Alan Murphy didn’t complain and slotted over the resulting free, for his sides fourth point of the game. The home side then reduced the deficit, when a short sideline cut from Donal Burke saw him take the ball back from Sean Moran, CONTINUED....
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 11 March 2022
Dublin downed in Capital clash David Blanchfield fired over 3 lovely points
