Colin Currie finds range as Dublin stun Kilkenny

Dublin 2-18 Kilkenny 1-19: A dominant extra-time performance saw Dublin claim victory over holders Kilkenny in Saturday’s enthralling Electric Ireland Leinster MHC semi-final at Parnell Park.

The hosts required a late goal from Donal Burke to salvage a 1-12 to 0-15 draw at full-time but improved in extra-time to avenge last year’s provincial final defeat.

Kilkenny started brightly with John Donnelly catching the eye with three cracking points.

Dublin only managed one score from play in that period, with only the defensive excellence of full-back Paddy Smyth ensuring their deficit was at a manageable 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.

Chances continued to be spurned after the break but the dead ball accuracy of Colin Currie left Dublin on Kilkenny’s heels with the visitors maintaining their narrow lead through points from Adrian Mullen.

Burke’s goal was a body blow from which Kilkenny never recovered and their task became even greater when they conceded a second goal to Currie in the 68th minute.

Ciarán Dowling tagged on two points to confirm Dublin’s ascendancy with a late goal from sub Shane Mahony arriving too late to save Kilkenny.

Scorers for Dublin: C Currie 1-10 (0-10f), D Burke 1-1, J McGuirk (0-1f), C Dowling, D Gray 0-2 each, C Ryan 0-1.

Scorers for Kilkenny: A Mullen 0-8 (4f), E Delaney (0-3f, 0-1 sideline), J Donnelly 0-5 each, S Mahony 1- 0, V Costello 0-1.

DUBLIN: D de Poire; J O’Neill, P Smyth, D Ryan; J McVeigh, C O’Sullivan, E Foley; C Ryan, D Keogh; C Burke, J McGuirk, D Gray; M O’Keeffe, C Dowling, C Currie.

Subs: D Burke for McGuirk (24), C Byrne for Keogh (half-time), R Hayes for O’Keeffe (50), D Hawkshaw for McVeigh (54), A Mellett for Burke (61), P Feeney for C Ryan (70), McVeigh for O’Sullivan (74).

KILKENNY: L Dunphy; J Molloy, T Walsh, V Costello; B Coady, D Mullen, J Connolly; E Delaney, C Kavanagh; J Donnelly, C Prendiville, S Bolger; A Mullen, J Bergin, S Buggy.

Subs: S Mahony for Coady (41), M Keoghan for Bolger (50), T Whitty for Delaney (59), Bolger for Buggy (71). Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)