Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

KILKENNY 2-23 DUBLIN 0-16

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park, Dublin

A third quarter burst of scoring, that included goals from Walter Walsh and Martin Keoghan, paved the way for Kilkenny's third win of the Allianz HL, sending them top of Group B.

In what amounted to a repeat of last July's Kilkenny win over Dublin at nearby Croke Park in the Leinster final, Brian Cody's side led virtually from pillar to post to leapfrog previously unbeaten Dublin into top spot.

Kilkenny went from good in the first-half to excellent after the break though Dublin were a pale shadow of the side that dug so deep to beat Tipperary at Semple Stadium last weekend.

A decade on from scoring a memorable 1-3 in the 2012 All-Ireland final replay, Walter Walsh struck the same tally again for the Cats while Keoghan finished with 1-1.

There were impressive cameos too from wing-back David Blanchfield, who boomed over three long-range scores, and free-taker Alan Murphy who helped get them up and running with a strong first-half.

But after seven games without defeat, a run that yielded Walsh Cup honours for Dublin, their unbeaten start to 2022 is finally over.

Mattie Kenny's side will travel to Portlaoise in Round 5 to wrap up their group campaign against Laois while Kilkenny will host Waterford next.

Dublin swapped the biting cold of wind and rain-swept Thurles a week ago for the sunny conditions of Donneycarney though, unfortunately for them, there was a marked contrast in the quality of their play too.

They got the better of Tipp with a carefully constructed short passing game but were unable to get on top of Kilkenny this time and hit the interval trailing by 0-11 to 0-5.

Dubs top scorer Donal Burke scored two Dublin points from frees in the first-half, meaning they split the posts from play just three times in the 35 or so minutes.

Seven wides cost Dublin but the hosts' difficulties were more to do with the quality of Kilkenny's defending as the 2021 joint champions locked down their backline.

At the other end, Kilkenny were hungry and efficient with a two-man full-forward line of Billy Ryan and Keoghan operating in front of a packed midfield buttressed by the deep lying Cillian Buckley.

Kilkenny seized on every Dublin mistake, like Tom Phelan's interception of a Donal Burke sideline cut and lay off to Walter Walsh who strode forward for a well taken score.

Keoghan was busy and bright, despite the attentions of former Dublin underage star Andrew Dunphy, and set up Murphy and Walsh for points.

Free-taker Murphy finished the half with five points though Phelan's withdrawal with an apparent injury shortly before the interval was a setback.

Dublin hinted at a comeback with three points in a row after the restart from Ronan Hayes and placed ball specialist Burke.

But Kilkenny's response was emphatic, an unanswered 2-3 with Walsh's 44th minute goal closely followed by a Keoghan major four minutes later.

Leading now by 2-13 to 0-8, it was a case of strolling to victory for Kilkenny while Dublin unloaded their bench in a vain attempt to rescue a result.

Kilkenny finished with 10 different scorers with sub John Donnelly, Mikey Carey and Padraig Walsh all sniping late points in the 13-point win.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Walter Walsh 1-3, Alan Murphy 0-5 (0-4f), Martin Keoghan 1-1, Padraig Walsh 0-4, David Blanchfield 0-3, Billy Ryan 0-2, Mikey Carey 0-2, Cillian Buckley 0-1, Cian Kenny 0-1, John Donnelly 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-9 (0-7f), Danny Sutcliffe 0-3, Ronan Hayes 0-2, Rian McBride 0-1, Paul Crummey 0-1.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Mikey Carey Paddy Deegan, David Blanchfield; Cian Kenny, Alan Murphy; Walter Walsh, Padraig Walsh, Tom Phelan; Billy Ryan, Cillian Buckley, Martin Keoghan.

Subs: John Donnelly for Phelan 35, James Maher for Kenny 45.

Dublin: Alan Nolan; Andrew Dunphy, Sean Moran, Cian O'Callaghan; James Madden, Paddy Smyth, John Bellew; Conor Burke, Chris Crummey; Danny Sutcliffe, Rian McBride, Donal Burke; Fergal Whitely, Ronan Hayes, Aidan Mellett.

Subs: Eamonn Dillon for Whitely 46, Jake Malone for Conor Burke 51, Donnacha Ryan for Moran 52, Paul Crummey for Hayes 59, Colin Currie for Mellett 61.

Referee: Paud O'Dwyer (Carlow).