Kilkenny 1-14
Dublin 0-17

TJ Reid came to Kilkenny's rescue to deny Dublin a shock Leinster SHC semi-final victory at Portlaoise.

Anthony Daly's Dublin side were on the verge of creating an upset of seismic proportions when a Joey Boland free put them a point up in injury time but half-time substitute Reid levelled matters almost immediately and the two teams will meet again next Saturday evening to determine who will face Galway in the Bob O'Keeffe decider.

It was cruel luck on Dublin who came to within a whisker of a first championship victory over the Cats in 71 years and now they face into their fourth championship contest in as many weeks following their draw and replay against Wexford in the last eight.

It was a dramatic end to a game that ebbed and flowed throughout and the sides went in level on 0-8 apiece at the break.

Points from Eoin Larkin, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan saw Kilkenny take an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the 10th minute.

Paul Ryan opened Dublin's account with a free in the 13th minute and the team in sky blue rallied and took over in the lead - 0-5 to 0-4 - before the impressive Walsh got Brian Cody's men back on level terms.

Boland registered the last score of the opening 35 minutes via a free as the teams were deadlocked at the break.

Despite playing into the wind, Dublin made the brighter start to the second half with Paul Schutte and Boland finding the target but they were knocked back on their heels when the All-Ireland champions goaled through Walsh.

But John McCaffrey got Dublin back on level terms and the second half followed a similar pattern to the first.

With five minutes to play the sides were level and the woodwork denied Conal Keaney a point but the same player earned a 20m free shortly after which Boland pointed.

Larkin hit a successful 45m free to leave the scoreboard all square entering injury-time.

Kilkenny stared defeat in the face when Boland looked to have secured the spoils for the metropolitans but they refused to panic and Reid spared their blushes.

The teams will renew acquaintances in the replay at the same venue next Saturday evening.

Dublin - G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte (0-1); S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; J McCaffrey (0-1), J Boland (0-9, 7f); C Keaney (0-1), R O'Dwyer, D Sutcliffe (0-1); C McCormack, D Treacy, P Ryan (0-1f). Subs: D O'Callaghan (0-1) for Ryan, M Schutte (0-1) for McCormack, S Durkin (0-1) for Sutcliffe, S Lambert for Treacy, E Dillon for Hiney.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, C Fogarty; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan, M Rice; C Fennelly, R Power, E Larkin (0-7f); W Walsh (1-4), R Hogan (0-2), C Buckley. Subs: P Hogan for Murphy, TJ Reid (0-1) for Rice, A Fogarty for Fennelly, M Ruth for Power.

Referee - J Ryan. Tweet

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