On a day when Kilkenny continued their domination of the senior stage, Dublin laid down a marker for the future by claiming the scalp of the reigning provincial champs (2-14 to 1-10) in the ESB Leinster MHC decider at Croke Park yesterday. Dublin 2-14 Kilkenny 1-10 Dublin had shown plenty of promise in both their minor and Under 21 campaigns to date and this promise was kept at headquarters as the Capital boys had too much firepower for hurling kingpins Kilkenny in a one-sided Leinster MHC decider. Second half goals from Paul Garbutt and Barry O'Rourke copperfastened the success for the side from the capital but even before the former latched onto a David Whelan free early in the second half, Dublin were well on the road to victory. Kilkenny were the brighter side in the opening exchanges and a trio of points from Mark Bergin propelled them into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead but Dublin responded in admirable fashion by sending over six of the next seven scores to go in at the break 0-7 to 0-4 to the good. David Whelan was responsible for two of those scores as he sent a brace of 65's between the uprights while Wayne Brogan and David Treacy were also on target during that purple patch for the boys in blue. Kilkenny did threaten their opponents superiority in the early stages of the second half when Shane Brennan pointed twice but Garbutt netted soon after to regain their four-point advantage before Barry O'Rourke struck for a goal midway through the half to put the issue beyond any doubt. Kilkenny's woes were compounded when Michael Fagan was dismissed for an off-the-ball altercation with Whelan and Dublin closed out proceedings in facile fashion with Treacy, O'Rourke and substitute Emmet McCabe all finding their range to add further daylight between the sides. A Paul Murphy goal on the stroke of full-time was little other than scant consolation for Kilkenny and that effort couldn't dampen Dublin celebrations as the side in blue issue yet another statement of intent for the future. Dublin - F. McGarry; O. Gough, E. Walsh, P. Schutte; P. Kelly (0-1), R. O'Carroll, P. Buckeridge; D. Whelan (0-3), D. Mooney; J. Cooper, D. Treacy (0-3), B. O'Rourke (1-2); N. McMorrow, P. Garbutt (1-0), W. Brogan (0-3). Subs - A. McMullan (0-1) for Mooney (20 mins), K. O'Loughlin for Garbutt (42 mins), E. McCabe (0-1) for McMorrow (50 mins), R. O'Loughlin for Brogan (59 mins), M. Jordan for Schette (60 mins). Kilkenny - C. McGrath; C. Fogarty, K. Mooney, E. Malone; J. Fitzpatrick, P. Murphy (1-0), D. Langton; C. McQuillan, M. Fagan; M. Bergin (0-5), M. Murphy (0-2), A. Stapleton (0-1); S. Brennan (0-2), D. Walton, J. Brennan. Subs - J. Nolan for Brennan (27 mins), T. Breen for Walton (39 mins), S. Waugh for Stapleton (51 mins), O. Walsh for McQuillan (55 mins). Referee - A. Stapleton (Laois). Tweet

Most Read Stories