Kilkenny hit second half afterburners to ease past 14-man Dublin and claim Leinster U20 title
Kilkenny's Ivan Bolger was TG4's man of the match in their Leinster U20 final victory over Dublin. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
A pillar to post win for Kilkenny who returned to the summit of the Leinster U-20 HC with the minimum of fuss.
Early goals from Rory Glynn and Aaron McEvoy laid the platform for a commanding win for the young Cats and a 28th provincial title at the grade.
Glynn and McEvoy finished with 2-3 between them while free-taker Michael Brennan top scored with eight points.
But it was more about the power of the collective as Kilkenny dominated in virtually all areas against a Dublin side that played the majority of the second-half with 14 players.
Dublin lost midfielder Fionn Murphy to a second booking early in the second-half though their boat was already taking on significant water at that stage.
The Dubs built up a head of steam throughout the knock-out series having previously lost to Kilkenny by seven points in the group stage.
But they never looked like gaining revenge and trailed throughout as Kilkenny won to advance to a May 31 All-Ireland final against Tipperary.
It was Kilkenny's second big win in Portlaoise in a week having conjured a strong second-half performance to see off Laois at the semi-final last Wednesday.
Dublin took the circuitous route to the provincial decider having beaten Antrim, holders Offaly and Galway in the knock-out series after losing both their group games.
But it was final agony for the second season running for 2020 winners Dublin who lost the 2024 decider to Offaly.
They trailed from the first score of the game, Ed Lauhoff's fifth minute point for Kilkenny, and were rocked moments later when Glynn sniped the first goal.
How Dublin missed the creative spark of injured attacker David Purcell.
Fellow senior Conal O Riain had his moments and sniped two long-range points but Kilkenny deserved their 2-9 to 0-9 half-time lead.
McEvoy hit Kilkenny's second goal in the 13th minute, bursting through the centre and rifling to the net.
Dublin briefly got it going with four points in a row between the 25th and 29th minutes. Senan Crosbie struck the last of those points and punched the air in celebration.
But it was a false dawn as Kilkenny hit the afterburners in the second-half and played for the majority of it with an extra player.
Murphy was shown the second yellow in the 31st minute as Dublin received a hammer blow just when they were looking for inspiration.
Kilkenny twice reeled off unanswered four-point bursts in the second-half with midfielder Darragh Vereker and captain Tom McPhillips among the scorers.
Kilkenny's defence was terrific throughout, restricting Dublin to just three second-half points from play.
M Brennan 0-8 (5 frees, 1 65); R Glynn 1-2; A McEvoy 1-1; E Lauhoff 0-4; D Vereker, T McPhillips 0-2 each; E McDermott, A Ireland Wall 0-1 each.
S Crosbie (1 free), D O'Kelly (4 frees) 0-4 each; O Gaffney 0-3 (3 frees); C O Riain, C Graham 0-2 each; J Kinnane, B Kenny 0-1 each.
S Manogue; J Neary, R Garrett, I Bolger; S Bergin, E Lyng, C Hickey; T McPhillips, D Vereker; E McDermott, A McEvoy, M Brennan; E Lauhoff, M Murphy, R Glynn.
J Dollard for Bergin (h/t); A Ireland Wall for McDermott (48); M Ahern for Garrett (52); G Kelly for Murphy (55), J Hughes for Glynn (61).
D Joyce; C Groarke, D Lucey, J Sheppard; K Costello, B Lynch, B Kenny; C Kennedy, F Murphy; D O'Kelly, J Kinnane, S Crosbie; C Graham, O Gaffney, C O Riain.
N Fitzgerald for O'Kelly (41); J Norris for Graham (47); F Donohoe for Kennedy (52).
E Furlong (Wexford).
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