In a Leinster senior hurling championship match marred by raw energy at the naturally illuminated Parnell Park, Kilkenny emerged victorious against Dublin courtesy of Eoin Cody’s last-minute goal. It was a match that saw 7,028 spectators envisage an elusive third championship win for Dublin over Kilkenny since 1942, when Brian Hayes put the team in front for the first time that day, netting the ball in the 55th minute. However, Dublin managed only three more points whilst Kilkenny tallied 1-5 to secure the win and ascend to the pinnacle of the table.
Despite the result, there was a conspicuous lack of conviction in Kilkenny’s performance, which came hot on the heels of a draw with Carlow the previous weekend. Particularly noteworthy was TJ Reid’s uncommon misfiring, sending three long-range frees wide in the second half alone.
Amidst Dublin’s surges of dominance, Kilkenny found a leader in John Donnelly, who played a pivotal role on-field, scoring 0-7 during the match. His response to Dublin’s goal, contributing two of the three quick return points, enabled Kilkenny to equalise.
The course of the game was fiercely contested, with both teams drawing level on nine separate occasions. The final tie was broken when Cody, angling from wide, manoeuvred the ball off the ground and around Seán Brennan, levelling the score at 1-28 to 2-22 in the dying seconds of the game.
Despite Donal Burke securing a free in injury-time, it ended as Kilkenny’s lone score in added time, thus surviving a possibility of a reversal in Donnycarney. The extremely fast-paced start saw a total of 23 shots on goal in the initial 15 minutes alone, with both teams engaging in nearly every attacking play. This included a remarkable save by Brennan from Martin Keoghan, prior to a free awarded to Reid which he duly converted from close range.
In the first half’s midpoint, Eoin Murphy showcased his goalkeeping skills with a remarkable save from Ronan Hayes’ shot. The scoring was initiated by Keoghan with a deceptive dummy that seemed to lead Dublin defense astay, providing him ample time and space to score a goal effortlessly.
Dublin made a comeback with Danny Sutcliffe’s skillful performance, only to be countered by Reid’s free in the fourth minute, giving Kilkenny a slight lead. Dublin struggled to level the score until the 40th minute of the game.
David Blanchfield extended Kilkenny’s advantage further with a long-range effort near the half-time. However, in the 35th minute, a quick counter-attack by Dublin resulted in Conor Burke partnering with Séan Currie to outsmart Murphy and score a goal, making the score 0-15 to 1-11.
In the extra time, the points were exchanged between Donnelly and Donal Burke, though Kilkenny held the lead, with Dublin fans echoing their support, sensing a shift in the game’s momentum.
The second half saw Dublin playing more confidently while Kilkenny appeared to falter. Ronan Hayes missed a brilliant goal opportunity but his brother Brian managed to score after ten minutes, creating an impression of a potential upset at Parnell Park.
Despite this, Kilkenny managed to hold their ground, not succumbing to Dublin’s pressure. The intensity of the game continued with Kilkenny showcasing their superior playing abilities, demonstrating why they are unbeatable, especially in the crucial final moments of the game.
The game in Dublin featured Seán Brennan, John Bellew, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle, Conor Donohoe, Chris Crummey who scored three points, Brian Hayes who scored one goal, Conor Burke who scored a goal and a point, Danny Sutcliffe who scored three points, Donal Burke who scored fourteen points inclusive of ten from frees and one from a 65-yard free, Fergal Whitley, Seán Currie, Cian O’Sullivan who scored two points, and Ronan Hayes. Substitutes included Paul Crummey who replaced injured O’Sullivan after 44 minutes, Darragh Power who replaced Whitley after 49 minutes, Daire Gray who replaced Doyle after 63 minutes, Jake Malone who replaced S Currie after 65 minutes and Dara Purcell who replaced R Hayes after 69 minutes.
The team from Kilkenny consisted of Eoin Murphy, Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler, David Blanchfield who scored three points, Paddy Deegan, Mikey Carey who scored a point, Shane Murphy, Cian Kenny who scored two points, Tom Phelan, TJ Reid who scored eight points including seven from frees, John Donnelly who scored seven points, Martin Keoghan who scored three points, Eoin Cody who scored a goal and three points, and Owen Wall. Substitutes included Billy Ryan who scored a point for Wall at half-time, Richie Reid who replaced S. Murphy after 42 minutes, Conor Fogarty who replaced Phelan after 59 minutes, and Cillian Buckley who replaced Carey after 69 minutes. The referee of the match was Johnny Murphy from Limerick.