The Kilkenny Observer Friday 20 May 2022
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kilkennyobserver.ie
Hurling matters Cian Kenny was a thorn in the Dublin defence and hit 0-4
TJ takes a tumble - but finished the day with 1-7
Any feint hopes of a Dublin comeback were well and truly put to bed with 55 minutes played. Eoin Murphy’s long clearance was diverted into the path of TJ Reid. The Shamrocks legend took the ball and headed towards the home side’s goal. It appeared that Donnacha Ryan had bottled TJ up and thwarted the attack, but Reid held off Ryan’s somewhat illegal attempt to halt him and produced a magnificent batted finish to outsmart keeper Brennan and notch his 27th goal in championship hurling. Eamonn Dillon popped over a point for the sky blues just about one minute after his introduction, points were not what Mattie Kenny’s charges needed. The Cats then hit two scores backto-back, firstly from a TJ Reid free to put the Noresiders nine points to the good. Then Eoin Cody registered his first score of the game with an hour gone, but doubled his tally just 60 seconds later! Adrian Mullen who had been cleverly finding pockets of space all evening, was found nicely by Mikey Carey and rifled over his fourth point of the day. Moments later, Mullen struck over another welltaken score to make it his 5th, the former Young Hurler of the Year was thoroughly enjoying his midfield role and had given a masterly scoring performance. The next man in black and amber to raise a flag would be half-time substitute John Donnelly. The Thomastown man struck over a lovely point
to push his sides lead out to 14 points. TJ fired over another free to bring his tally for the day to 1-7. Donal Burke, who had been one of the better boys in blue, encapsulated Dublin’s evening by striking a very scorable free wide of Eoin Murphy’s post. Dicksboro’s Cillian Buckley who had been sprung from the bench during the second half, became the ninth Kilkenny player to get on the score sheet when he hit the 24th point of the day for those in stripes. It was fitting that the final point of the day came from the hurl of TJ Reid. A monster free from distance by the Shamrocks man made it a double score game as Waterford ref Thomas Walsh blew for full-time and put the home side out of their misery. Final score at Parnell Park, Dublin 0-17, Kilkenny 3-25. Scorers - Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-7 (5f); M Keoghan 2-1; A Mullen 0-5; C Kenny 0-4; A Murphy 0-3; E Cody 0-2; B Ryan, J Donnelly, C Buckley 0-1 each. Scorers - Dublin: D Burke 0-9 (7f); C Burke 0-2; F Whitely, R McBride, C Crummey, D Gray, M Schutte, E Dillon 0-1 each. Kilkenny: E Murphy; M Butler, C Delaney, T Walsh; M Carey, R Reid, P Deegan; A Mullen, A Murphy; W Walsh, TJ Reid, P Walsh; C Kenny, M Keoghan, E Cody. Substitutes: J Donnelly for W Walsh (h/t); B Ryan for P Walsh (48); C Fogarty for A Murphy (59); C Buckley for Mullen (65); D Blanchfield for Butler (67). Dublin: S Brennan; J Madden, E O’Donnell, C O’Callaghan; D Ryan, P Smyth, D Gray; C Burke, C Crummey; D Sutcliffe, R McBride, D Burke; F Whitely, R Hayes, A Mellett. Substitutes: M Schutte for Mellett (32); E Dillon for Hayes (55); A Dunphy for Gray (59); J Bellew for O’Donnell (63); D Keogh for McBride (65). Referee: T Walsh (Waterford)
>> SHERRY SAYS...
own half! That was last year’s captain’s third of the day, and his best to date. Some great pressing by the Kilkenny players led to Daire Gray being blown-up and TJ made no mistake from the free. Dublin’s response was placed ball popped over the bar by the deadly Donal Burke. Burke did the same minutes later, and one wondered where this Dublin team would be without the excellent Na
Fianna man. The home really needed a goal, but it would be the visitors that would register another major. Eoin Cody who had been unusually quiet all evening, put James Madden under pressure and TJ Reid picked up the loose ball and scanned the area for options. As ever, TJ made the right decision and played a lovely pass to Martin Keoghan. Mossy took the
pass, spun and unleashed a fierce low shot that appeared to leave keeper Sean Brennan unsighted in the Dublin goal. The Cuala man got his hurl to the shot, but it deflected off the ash and into his net. Kilkenny now led by 6 points, with 47 odd minutes on the clock. The hosts hit back with a free, but this was cancelled out immediately when sub Billy Ryan pointed, having only been on the pitch
a matter of seconds. Mossy then helped set up a point scoring opportunity for TJ, who split the posts from a central position. James Madden who had been trying to stem the Cats attack from the off, then went on a powerful run in search of a score. Referee Walsh awarded the Dubs a free when the Ballyboden man was stopped in his tracks. Donal Burke pointed the free.
Dublin undone yet again by the masterful Cats. It seems to be a pattern. The men from the capital going well and seemingly ready to get back to 2013 levels, then Brian Cody comes along and bang, Dubs dismantled. The four late changes that Mr. Cody made to his starting XV, fully paid off. Mossy’s 2 goal salvo will rightly have gotten the headlines, but the 0-4 that Cian Kenny notched were just as important in this win for the Noresiders. A special mention for Alan Murphy. The Glenmore man had an outstanding league for the Cats, and hasn’t let his manager down when called upon in the provincial championship. His robust approach and all-action style were invaluable in Parnell Park. Martin Keoghan was given the MOTM award by many pundits, but he was in good company in Donnycarney. TJ’s 1-7 will have done him no harm at all, but his ability to pick out Mossy for the second goal was classy. Sticking with the Shamrocks, Adrian Mullen. What a game he had last weekend. His 0-5, all from play were a joy to see. This could be a big summer for Adrian. The defence, minus Huw Lawlor provided plenty of protection to Eoin Murphy’s goal. Good omens. UPMC Nowlan Park will see Darragh Eagan’s Wexford roll into town this weekend. Brian Cody’s message to his panel will be quite simple. Just win it.
