Electric Ireland Leinster minor hurling championship Round 1​

KILKENNY 3-23 DUBLIN 4-12

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

Captain Conor Kelly led by example for Kilkenny with 14 points at Parnell Park as the young Cats got their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC campaign off to a strong start.

Richie Mulrooney's side edged a high quality Tier 1, Round 1 encounter with Ciaran Brennan, George Murphy and Cathal O'Leary providing the goals.

Midfielder Kelly hit all but two of his points from placed balls though had a strong game and provided the platform for a hard fought win.

Kilkenny were forced to fight to the finish by a Dublin side for whom powerful full-forward Luke Swan impressed with 3-1.

Swan nailed his first goal after just four minutes to put Dublin 1-1 to no score clear.

The visitors, backed by a strong travelling support ahead of the senior game, grew into the contest and led 1-4 to 1-3 after O'Leary's 16th minute goal.

Dublin's response was emphatic, another Swan goal after a great catch from Kevin Byrne's long ball, and the hosts led again, 2-3 to 1-4.

It set the tone for a tit-for-tat encounter though Kilkenny were always just about in control and led 2-10 to 2-7 at the break.

Murphy grabbed holders Kilkenny's second goal in the 21st minute and they had the wind advantage after the break.

That counted initially as Kelly powered over three frees in a row to open up a six-point lead in Kilkenny's favour.

But Dublin came roaring back into the contest and a 45th minute Liam Dunne goal capped a strong period as they cut the deficit to a point.

Kilkenny finished strongest and outscored Dublin 1-7 to 1-0 in the run in with Brennan netting four minutes from time to seal a battling win.

Kilkenny face Wexford in Round 2 on May 19 while Dublin play Laois on the same day.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Conor Kelly 0-14 (0-12f), Ciaran Brennan 1-3 (0-1f), George Murphy 1-2, Cathal O'Leary 1-1, Jack Morrissey 0-2, Cian Kenny 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Luke Swan 3-1, Liam Dunne 1-7 (0-5f, 0-1 65), Dara Purcell 0-2, Alex O'Neill 0-1, Pearce Christie 0-1.

KILKENNY: Jason Brennan; Padraig Dempsey, Jamie Young, Jamie Harkin; Shane Staunton, Padraic Moylan, Harry Walsh; Cian Kenny, Conor Kelly; Darragh Maher, Ciaran Brennan, Jack Morrissey; Cathal O'Leary, George Murphy, Killian Hogan. Subs: Eoin Guilfoyle for Hogan (47).

**DUBLIN: **Jack Lambert; Kevin Byrne, Ciaran Hogan, Tom Cullen; Eoin Carney, Alex O'Neill, Iain O hEither; Donal Leavy, Daragh Power; Daragh McLoughney, Pearce Christie, Ciaran Foley; Liam Dunne, Luke Swan, Dara Purcell. Subs: Finn Murphy for Cullen (35), Conor Murray for McLoughney (35), Aaron O'Toole for Foley (47), Seamus Fenton for Purcell (57), Sean Foran for Power (63).

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).