Kilkenny 2-19
Dublin 2-10

Kilkenny avenged their humiliating first round defeat to Dublin with a dominant display to capture their 55th Leinster MHC title at Croke Park this afternoon.

When the sides met in Nowlan Park at the end of April, Dublin cruised to a 2-8 to 0-3 victory, but a revitalised Kilkenny were a different proposition this time around as they retained their provincial crown in fine style. Liam Blanchfield (2-3) and Alan Murphy (0-9) were the scoring heroes for Pat Hoban's side who were backboned by players from this year's two All-Ireland Colleges finalists, St Kieran's College and Kilkenny CBS.

Dublin only led once after Sean Gray opened the scoring. Alan Murphy and Ronan Corcoran replied with points for the holders before Blanchfield grabbed the first goal in the 10th minute.

Murphy extended the Cats' advantage to 1-3 to 0-1 before Darren Brennan produced a great save to deny Dublin a goal in the 16th minute. Murphy and Gray traded points before Rian McBride made it 0-3 to 1-5 after 24 minutes. Conor Browne responded, but Dublin were back in it when Sean Ryan goaled coming up to half-time.

But three quick scores from Murphy (two) and Blanchfield re-established the winners' six-point cushion. However, there was still time for Conor O'Callaghan and Gray to pop over points and leave four between the sides, 1-5 to 1-9, at the break.

Murphy scored the first three points of the second half to bring his tally to 0-8 before Eoghan McHugh replied for Dublin. But by the 43rd minute, Kilkenny had pushed out their lead to 2-16 to 1-6 thanks to a point and goal from Blanchfield, either side of a Sean Morrissey effort.

Chris Bennett and Eoin O Conghaile both scored two points each as the Dubs reduced the arrears to 11 points, 1-10 to 2-18, with five minutes remaining. John Walsh hit back for the Noresiders before O Conghaile managed a late consolation goal for the losers.

Kilkenny - D Brennan; C McGrath, C Delaney, C Doheny; D Joyce, J Cleere, P Lyng; C Browne (0-1), L Scanlon; S Morrissey (0-2), R Butler (0-1), B Ryan; A Murphy (0-9, 4f, 1'65), L Blanchfield (2-3), R Corcoran (0-2). Subs: E Kenny for B Ryan, J Walsh (0-1) for R Butler, L Hennessy for R Corcoran.

Dublin - J Treacy; M McCallion, S Barrett, D Butler; S Howard, J Malone, P O'Dea; R McBride (0-1), D Burke; S Grey (0-3f), E McHugh (0-1), E Conroy; S Ryan (1-0), C O'Callaghan (0-1), C Bennett (0-2f). Subs: C O'Sullivan for P O'Dea, T Fox for S Barrett, C Brady for D Burke, E O Conghaile (1-2) for S Grey, F Whitely for D Butler.

Referee - P O'Dwyer. Tweet

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