Kilkenny 3-28; Dublin 1-18
Nothing claws back sharper than a wounded Cat. Just ask Kilkenny skipper Paddy Deegan, who explained after the 16-point demolition of Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday evening that his team felt they were being dismissed in the run up to the Leinster final against Dublin.
"I don't think we were given respect in the last few weeks, even coming into this match, we weren't given respect,” the skipper said. “That probably adds a bit of chip to the shoulder."
If the scribes thought the Metropolitans could live with the Cats, then they were well and truly given a lesson in humility as from the moment Eoin Cody rifled home a goal in the third minute to the end, this was all about the black and amber.
Yes, it was about their fifth provincial title in a row and their 76th in all but it was more about the here and now. All Kilkenny can do is beat what is put in front of them and with the exception of a draw against Carlow, they have owned the eastern province once again this early summer.
Are they as good as they looked against a dire Dublin? Time will tell but something suggests that Manager Derek Lyng is getting it together piece by piece and if they likely face Cork in the All Ireland semi-final, then that could tell us if they have all the pieces together to mount a charge to bring back Liam to Norseside next month.
Assessed Lyng after the game: "We closed down Dublin really well; our work-rate all over the pitch was pretty good. We were efficient and our use of the ball was good. I felt it was a performance that had been coming and we got things right for the majority of the game. I was really pleased with that.
"It was a good performance but we need to improve again for the All-Ireland semi-final," he stressed.
So what was there to report from the match? Well, it was so one-sided that most of the crowd who came for the Offaly-Laois curtain raiser, were gone from the stands long before the final whistle was blown in this encounter.
Adrian Mullen’s return meant a lot and his six first-half points showed what a class act he is. And speaking of such forces of nature, TJ Reid hasn’t gone away you know, despite carrying 36 winters on his back these days. He scored 2-3 from play, a sign that should act as a warning for other teams in the coming weeks.
Good signs too for the Cats that Richie Reid is playing his best ever hurling back at centre back while the athleticism of Cian Kenny at midfield is also making a difference to the Kilkennyenergy levels to get around the field.
As for Dublin? Aside from Chris Crummy never throwing in the towel and a late goal from sub Mark Grogan, they had little to write home about. They now have a chance to get back up on the horse via the quarters but on this showing they will be meat and drink to the big cats left in the competition.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; T Walsh, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Blanchfield (0-1), R Reid, M Carey; C Kenny (0-4), P Deegan; A Mullen (0-7), TJ Reid (2-6, 0-3f), J Donnelly (0-3); M Keoghan (0-3), E Cody (1-1), B Ryan (0-01). Subs: S Murphy for Carey (28), T Phelan (0-1) for Ryan (46), J Molloy for Lawlor (64), W Walsh (0-1) for Mullen (64), C Fogarty for Kenny (64).
Dublin: S Brennan; P Smyth (0-1), E O'Donnell, J Bellew (0-1); C Crummey (0-1), C Donohoe, P Doyle; B Hayes, C Burke (0-3); D Sutcliffe (0-1), D Purcell (0-2), F Whitely; D Burke (0-8, 0-7f), S Currie, R Hayes Subs: D Power (0-1) for Whitely (16-17, temp), D Gray for Doyle (half-time), D Power for Currie (half-time), M Grogan (1-0) for Whitely (half-time), C Currie for R Hayes (53), J Madden for B Hayes (62).
Re: T Walsh (Waterford).
GAA Results
Munster SH Final
Limerick 1-26; Clare 1-20
Leinster SH Final
Kilkenny 3-28; Dublin 1-18
Joe McDonagh Cup Final
Offaly 2-23; Laois 0-26
Tailteann Cup qualifiers
Laois 1-13; New York 1-9
Antrim 3-11; London 2-10
Wicklow 2-15; Leitrim 1-11
Limerick 1-18; Tipperary 1-10
Tailteann Cup Quarter Final Draw
(Matches to be played this weekend)
Kildare v Laois
Sligo v Limerick
Down v Wicklow
Fermanagh v Antrim
