Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Final

Kilkenny 3-15, Dublin 1-17

Team captain Adrian Mullen once again led by example as Kilkenny defeated Dublin in the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship final at Croke Park.

The full forward scored 1-9 – including the game’s first goal in the opening minute – and is now becoming used to lifting cups on the big occasion, having also captained St Kieran’s College to win the Leinster Schools’ SH title this year.

But this wasn’t a one-man band for Kilkenny, who after gaining the upper hand early on always had enough in the tank to keep Dublin at bay.

The first two goals were Kilkenny goals, with Sean Ryan also firing to the net in the 4^th minute. This was despite the best efforts of Dublin net minder Conor O’Donoghue, who almost prevented Mullen’s opening strike.

Dublin, the reigning champions, actually responded well to this early setback, and by the 18^th minute were back level at 2-2 to 0-8, with Sean Currie and Liam Murphy chipping in with fine scores.

But by the interval Kilkenny had restored a three point advantage – 2-7 to 0-10 – and they pulled further clear shortly after the resumption.

Mullen fired over the opening point of the second half and then Sean Ryan got his second goal in the 38^th minute.

Kilkenny had one hand on the cup from that point on and despite a late goal for Dublin by Enda O’Donnell, there was no disputing the Cats superiority on the day.

Kilkenny Scorers: Adrian Mullen 1-9 (4fs, 1 65), Seán Ryan 2-2, Conor Heary, Niall Brassil, Jim Ryan, Eoin O’Shea 0-1 each.

Dublin Scorers: Seán Currie 0-8 (7f), David Keogh 0-5 (2fs), Enda O’Donnell 1-0, Liam Murphy 0-3, Diarmuid Ó Floinn 0-1.

KILKENNY: Dean Mason; Tommy Ronan, Michael Carey, Darragh Walsh; James Brennan, Conor Flynn, Jordon Molloy; Eoin O’Shea, Niall Brassil; Jesse Roberts, Conor Heary, Jim Ryan; Daithí Barron, Adrian Mullen (Capt.), Seán Ryan. Subs: Niall Brennan for Roberts (23, inj.), Eoin Cody for Heary (50), John Dowd for O’Shea (59).

DUBLIN: Conor O’Donoghue; Andrew Dunphy, Ben McHugh, Tommy Kinnane; Eoghan O’Neill, Luke Walsh, Lee Gannon; David Keogh (Capt.), Mícheál Murphy; Mark Grogan, Ben Coffey, Diarmuid Ó Floinn; Liam Murphy, Kevin Desmond, Seán Currie. Subs: Luke McDwyer for Murphy (HT), Enda O’Donnell for Grogan (40), Jason Byrne for Desmond (50), Kevin Burke for O’Neill (55), Tom Aherne for Gannon (60).