Goal hungry Kilkenny overwhelm Dublin

Leinster title holders Kilkenny are on the brink of a return to the provincial final after powering past Dublin at Parnell Park, two-goal hero Martin Keoghan setting the Cats on their way.

Nearly 9,000 poured into the sun-kissed Dublin venue in anticipation of a cracker but after a competitive 50 minutes or so, Kilkenny completely took over and marched on to a double-scores win.

Keoghan finished with 2-01 while TJ Reid helped himself to 1-07 with Adrian Mullen and Cian Kenny excellent too and contributing 0-09 between them.

It's Kilkenny's third win of the campaign and leaves them safe in the knowledge that a victory over Wexford next Saturday will propel them through to the provincial final.

As for Dublin, all is not lost because while they caved in badly in the final 20 minutes or so, if they can pick things up and beat Galway next weekend in Salthill then they too will be through to the final in what could yet be a rematch with Brian Cody's side.

Keoghan netted in the 28th and 47th minutes, his second breaking the back of Dublin's challenge, and Kilkenny went on to score the last nine points of the game as they cantered to a 17-point win.

Mullen pointed for Kilkenny in the opening seconds of the game and with four scores registered - two points for each team - in the first two minutes alone, it looked like a thriller might be on the cards in front of 8,750.

Cody shifted around his Kilkenny personnel before throw-in with four late changes to the published team; Richie Reid replacing Conor Browne in defence, Alan Murphy coming in for Cillian Buckley in midfield, where he partnered Mullen, along with starts in attack for Kenny and Keoghan in place of James Maher and Billy Ryan.

Keoghan and Kenny joined Eoin Cody in a new look