Dubs lose out in leinster IHC

KILKENNY 4-26 DUBLIN 3-15
(after extra-time)

Dublin recovered from a nightmare start to force extra-time before being totally outrun in the Leinster IHC final in Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

Hosts Kilkenny scored three goals inside the opening 15 minutes and looked set for a facile victory before a determined Dublin side battled back into contention and an injury-time Shane Martin goal, his second of the game, ensured extra-time.

Noel Doherty put Kilkenny into the driving seat with a goal in the opening minute and five minutes later Paddy Hogan drove a free to the net.

Matters got worse before they improved for the Dubs when Peter Cleere crashed home the Cats third goal at the end of a driving run.

But five points without reply from David Treacy (two frees), Damien Russell, Tim Sweeney and Emmet Carroll left the Dubs just three points in arrears.

By the interval Cleere had tagged on two points for the eventual winners to leave it 3-6 to 0-10.

Three minutes into the second half Shane Martin was alert to fire a rebound to the net from a free from goalkeeper Alan Nolan.

But the introduction of subs Michael Grace and Bill Beckett, who between them scored nine points from play, helped turn the balance turn back the way of Kilkenny.

Nine minutes from the end of normal time Nolan made no mistake from the penalty spot and then with the game in added time David Sweeney send over a cross from the wing which Martin doubled to the net to bring the sides level, 3-14 each.

However, that was as good as it got for the Dubs who played second fiddle in extra-time as Kilkenny ran out 14-point victors.