Kilkenny deliver 17th Leinster title of the Brian Cody reign

Kilkenny's Huw Lawlor in action against Cian O'Sullivan of Dublin during the Leinster SHC final at Croke Park. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Leinster SHC final: Dublin 0-19 Kilkenny 1-25

A familiar outcome to a Leinster final but Kilkenny’s means of annexing provincial titles shows signs of change.

This was no snatch and grab effort like last November’s final win over Galway - the outcome of this affair was known at the second water break when they were seven points up.

However, it required plenty of grunt to wriggle free of the hold of a Dublin team determined if not capable of making light of losing four players to a positive Covid case the morning of a game.

This was an evening when Kilkenny’s defence claimed the plaudits, Huw Lawlor and Paddy Deegan ruling the full-back line and James Maher starring after a difficult first half against in-form Dublin captain Danny Sutcliffe.

Adrian Mullen’s graph continues to rise while Eoin Cody persevered despite a forgettable opening period. Although Paddy Smyth coped with TJ Reid when he moved inside in the second half, the Kilkenny great was still enough of a presence to distract and divert attention in open play and standing over dead balls to matter.

The area which will give Brian Cody most cause for alarm is midfield where for the second game in a row both Richies, Leahy and Reid, made way before the final quarter. It’s not as if Kilkenny’s engine is spluttering but right now it lacks the power in comparison to other genuine All-Ireland contenders. It’s a possibility that it may be a consequence of their new-found appreciation for short passing but the pair needs to put more of a stamp on games.

Yet there was so much vim and eagerness in Kilkenny’s play that it compensated for their midfield issues. The pressure exerted on Dublin at times would have thrilled Cody no end, Martin Keoghan’s 51st minute following a series of frenetic tackles that saw Dublin eventually cough up the ball.

In claiming his 17th Leinster title as manager, Cody cut a more relieved figure than the nine-point winning margin would suggest. Magnanimous in victory after Dublin’s pre-match difficulties, he knew the result was achieved by a workmanlike display.

“It was a huge battle. It took us a long, long time to get into a position to get even a small bit comfortable. We were never comfortable. Our lads kept working and tapping points at important times and eventually we got there.”

After a shaky start, Dublin, guided by Danny Sutcliffe, felt their way into the game and trailed 0-4 to 0-6 at the first water break. Little was sticking in the Kilkenny full-forward line and the sides were level at nine points apiece although that prompted a black and amber rally in the closing stages of the half to go in 0-12 to 0-9 ahead.

Dublin’s challenge wilted towards the second water break as they shipped four points to trail by seven and when TJ Reid placed a penalty goal following a Jake Malone sin binning offence in the 61st minute the Bob O’Keeffe Cup was heading Noreside for the 73rd time.

Mattie Kenny was proud of how his team responded to losing starters Cian O’Callaghan and Ronan Hayes and substitutes Fergal Whiteley and Oisín O’Rourke. But on top of Eamon Dillon’s absence, Hayes’ unavailability blunted their attack. “We asked the guys to go out there and be brave and to compete and take the game to the opposition. They did that and as the second half wore on, there’s no argument that Kilkenny were the better team and finished strong.

“We picked up two significant injuries — we lost Eoghan (O’Donnell) after the first minute and then Mark Schutte. So they’re the knocks we took along the way.

“The Leinster championship finished for us today, Kilkenny were worthy winners, but we’re now into the All-Ireland series and we’ve a quarter-final to prepare for in two weeks time. We have to dust ourselves down, go back and get prepared for that, and come back stronger than today.”

The 60-second report

IT MATTERED

Kilkenny powered into the second-half water break with four unanswered points to push their lead to seven. Only one winner after that.

CAN’T IGNORE

The 11th-hour news that Cian O’Callaghan and Ronan Hayes were two of four Dublin players ruled out of the final after a positive Covid case was reported and close contacts established.

GOOD DAY

Brian Cody seems to give the impression that his team are a work in progress. Indeed they are, but winning while learning is the right kind of progress.

BAD DAY

To lose four matchday players, two starters, was a tough blow for Mattie Kenny.

PHYSIO ROOM

Brian Cody appeared to suggest Conor Browne faces a race to be fit for the All-Ireland semi-final after damaging his hamstring in the first half. Mattie Kenny revealed Eoghan O’Donnell and Mark Schutte are both injured.

SIDELINE SMARTS

The latest example of Kilkenny’s evolution as an adaptable team was on display here. When it is done with speed, as was often the case on Saturday, it is impressive, although the Cats still don’t have a settled midfield.

BEST ON SHOW

Huw Lawlor was a deserving official Man of the Match winner, but would he have been so superior against Hayes? James Maher thundered into the game after an uneasy spell, while Paddy Deegan and Pádraig Walsh also more than held their own.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Another steady performance by Johnny Murphy, although Danny Sutcliffe might have been sent off early in the second half when he clashed with Alan Murphy. The sin bin/penalty decision against Jake Malone looked to be the right call.

NEXT UP

Kilkenny’s All-Ireland semi-final is scheduled for Sunday, August 7. Dublin are back in action at the quarter-final stage the weekend after next.

Scorers for Dublin: D. Burke (0-10, 8 frees); D. Sutcliffe, C. Crummey (0-2 each); C. Boland, A. Nolan (free), R. McBride, J. Malone, D. Keogh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilkenny: T.J. Reid (1-10, 1-0 pen, 0-8 frees,0-1 65); J. Maher (0-3); A. Mullen, M. Keoghan, A. Murphy, J. Bergin (0-2 each); J. Donnelly, E. Cody, C. Buckley, M. Carey (0-1 each).

DUBLIN: A. Nolan; P. Smyth, E. O’Donnell, J. Madden; A. Dunphy, L. Rushe, D. Gray; R. McBride, C. Burke; D. Burke, C. Crummey, D. Sutcliffe (c); C. Boland, M. Schutte, C. O’Sullivan.

Subs for Dublin: S. Moran for E. O’Donnell (inj 4); J. Malone for D. Gray (blood, 15-19); P. Crummey for M. Schutte (inj h-t); D. Keogh for C. O’Sullivan (53); S. Currie for C. Boland (head, 60-65); D. Treacy for C. Boland (70).

Sin bin: J. Malone (61).

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; P. Deegan, H. Lawlor, T. Walsh; J. Maher, P. Walsh, C. Browne; R. Reid, R. Leahy; T.J. Reid, M. Keogan, A. Mullen (c); B. Ryan, E. Cody, J. Donnelly.

Subs for Kilkenny: M. Carey for C. Browne (inj 25); A. Murphy for R. Leahy (h-t); C. Buckley for R. Reid (46); W. Walsh for B. Ryan (48); J. Bergin for E. Cody (64).

Referee: J. Murphy (Limerick).