It was a big day for the Metropolitans
Dublin claimed the scalp of All-Ireland champions Kilkenny today, and on their own patch as well, to move into pole position at the head of Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League.
The men from the capital took advantage of a strong wind and the first-half sending-off of Jonjo Farrell to build a seven-point half-time lead, 0-15 to 1-5, with Matthew Ruth netting the first of his two goals to keep the Cats in touch.
The Dubs extended their advantage to 13 before Kilkenny lost another player to ill discipline, Joe Lyng being sent to the sideline with 15 minutes to go.
That seemed to jolt Kilkenny into action, however, but a late charge that included goals for Ruth and Richie Hogan and a red card for Dublin’s Danny Sutcliffe fell short as the men in Blue held on to win 0-25 to 3-11 and make it two wins from two.
Bad call in 1st half aside dublin superior team very sharp too many kilkenny players not firing #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO
— Eddie Brennan (@NedzerB13) February 22, 2015
“Any time you come down to Nowlan Park and get a victory, it’s very pleasing,” Dublin’s new hurling boss Ger Cunningham said after the match.
“The last ten minutes were a bit panicky from the point of view of them finishing with a couple of goals. It just made it a bit tight at the end.”
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody didn’t take anything away from the performance of the Dubs but believed the sendings off played a big part in how the game played out.
“Dublin deserved to win it,” he said. “Obviously we were at a disadvantage playing with 14 for most of it and 13 for a bit as well.”
“I don’t know why he was sent off,” Cody said of Farrell’s dismissal. “The referee obviously just made a decision.”
Meanwhile Tipperary held off a determined Galway fightback in their 2-18 to 0-20 victory over the Tribesemen at Semple Stadium.
An injury-time point from substitute Conor Kenny put the game beyond an aggressive Galway to give Tipp the perfect rebound from last week’s thrashing at the hands of Dublin.
In Division 1B, some professional Wexford defending gave them their first win in Offaly, in league or championship, for 42 years.
A first-half Jack Guiney goal gave The Model County a four point lead at the break and Offaly were always going to struggle after Cillian Kiely saw red.
Wexford continued to add points, despite some questionable shooting, in the second half and the 2-15 to 0-12 victory was wrapped up when Podge Doran found the back of the net.
Limerick put 23 points past Antrim to give the Treaty County their first victory in the league in this campaign.
The players were forced to contend with terrible conditions that battered the Ballycastle surface but it was the visitors who coped better, with 10 Limerick players getting on the scoresheet to see off the Saffrons who could only manage 1-12 on the day.
