They didn't have it all their own way, but Kilkenny managed to secure a reasonably comfortable win in the end against Dublin in Nowlan Park tonight.
While Dublin led for all of the first half, the home side's superior quality would show in the second period. They would ultimately run out winners on a scoreline of 2-23 to 1-21.
While there was some quality hurling on show, the major talking point from the game was the actions of Dublin selector Greg Kennedy. The former Galway hurler interfered with play by catching a quick free from TJ Reid in the first half, stopping what looked to be a goal scoring opportunity.
As you can imagine, it did not go down well with the Kilkenny players or management. Kennedy was berated by Brian Cody when he stopped off the pitch, and rightly so.
Cody was interviewed on Sky Sports after the match, and gave a typically cheeky Cody response when asked about the incident:
It was different, it was different for sure. It was an opportunity, TJ threw the ball across to Wally (Walter Walsh) obviously thinking goal chance.
I know Greg used to play corner back, but he brought it to a new level there alright!
That was as much as he said about it. Kilkenny came flying out of the traps in the second half, and one might have assumed that this incident just before half time could have had something to do with it.
However, Cody said his players were up for it regardless of what had just happened on the pitch.
Obviously you're stoked up because you want to win the game anyway. Players will grind their teeth and put their shoulder to the wheel. First game in the round robin, and we are leaving here with two points in the bag.
The alternative is to lose and leave with no points, and with serious games coming up. Regardless of what happens in various aspects of the game, it's the players who out and perform.
It's always won out there by the players. You can talk forever in the dressing room and do all sorts of stuff, the players go out and dictate what happens.
Kilkenny will face Carlow in their next Leinster Championship game, while Dublin will take on Wexford.
