AN inspired Dublin defence saw their side through to the Leinster final after a famous win 1-16 to 0-16 over Kilkenny at a booming O'Moore Park tonight.

Kilkenny relied heavily on Eoin Larkin for scores but the Dubs can pay tribute to their six defenders for a first win over Kilkenny since 1942.

Mark Schutte and Shane Durkin made serious impacts from the bench as the game went on, but it was the likes of Paul Shcutte, Liam Rushe, Stephen Hiney and Niall Corcoran that laid the platform for this massive win.

Kilkenny now drop to the qualifiers next Saturday night against Tipperary in what will be another Titanic clash. Despite getting sent off in the closing minutes, they will have Richie Power available for this clash as he was given two yellows.

But this night belonged to Dublin. They should have prevailed last weekend but didn't. Although they made life difficult for themselves last night - especially in attack - they were the hungrier, sharper team throughout.

They kept Kilkenny to just five points from play - an incredible statistic. Anthony Daly's men waited a long time for such a win but they got it last night. Perhaps the difference was that three of their subs scored when they came on the field; a sign of their strength in depth.

They were the better team in the opening period and led by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break.

With 18 minutes to go, Kilkenny had cut the lead to just a point and the comeback which seemed inevitable to everyone in O'Moore Park was on but when David O'Callaghan's goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Lester Ryan it fell to Danny Suttcliffe who flashed the ball to the net.

Try as they might Kilkenny could not muster the goal they needed and Dublin clung on for a famous win.

Online Editors