Kilkenny out of National League

Kilkenny 1-15 Dublin 0-9

Kilkenny’s bid to regain their National League crown fell away at Nowlan Park this afternoon as their 1-15 to 0-9 victory over a defiant Dublin side was not enough to keep them in the top six hunt.

Kilkenny had a +0 points difference heading into this fixture, and lose out by two points as Waterford have a superior +11 difference following their 1-16 to 1-14 defeat by the Banner men.

The Cats were 0-10 to 0-5 in front at the break, with Dublin having a glut of chances to be level but hitting an ugly nine wides.

Conal Keaney was excelling at centre back but multiple All-star DJ Carey was soon into his scoring run, hitting his first of five first half points on two minutes from a free.

David Curtin, who missed the recent clash with Laois, replied with a free of his own before left half-forward David Glennon hit over a peach from under the new stand.

Curtin stuck with Kilkenny and pulled Dublin level at 0-3 apiece on 18 minutes after Henry Shefflin and Conor Phelan had given the home side the lead.

Tommy Walsh, in for the injured Paddy Mullally, pointed and further Shefflin and Carey placed balls stretched Kilkenny to a five-point lead at half-time.

After the break Shefflin and Walsh ran Kilkenny into a 0-12 to 0-6 lead. Six minutes later DJ Carey goaled a 20-metre free not once but twice after referee Whelan had adjudged a Kilkenny encroachment on his first attempt, to put nine points between the sides.

Dublin kept the nine-point difference to the end as after Shefflin (free) and Sean Dowling had added to the Kilkenny tally on 62 minutes, Curtin hit over two further frees, his fifth and sixth scores of the afternoon.

Shefflin completed the scoring in injury time but not before Dublin half back Keith Wilson was dismissed for his second bookable offence, having been previously booked for his involvement in the Hoyne incident after half time.