UNDER-21 HURLING:Dublin 0-18 Kilkenny 0-12

DUBLIN PLAYED like a team on a mission and they led from start to finish when deposing champions of the past two seasons, Kilkenny, in this lively Leinster under-21 hurling championship semi-final at Nowlan Park yesterday evening.

The winners now have a real chance of taking the provincial final because they are at home in the final against Wexford on July 14th.

Kilkenny were literally run out of this game, Dublin opening the scoring in the first minute through Shane Stapleton and the leading all the way home from there.

By the break, after playing with the breeze, they led by 0-10 to 0-6.

However, with luck the Dubs could have been further ahead because they shot eight wides during that half. Still, the good work of Stapleton, who landed four scores, helped them into a good position.

Within seven minutes of the restart Kilkenny were in serious, serious trouble.

The opposition tacked on unanswered points through Stapleton, David Quinn, Martin Quilty and Daire Plunkett to go 0-14 to 0-6 clear.

They added another brace of points before Kilkenny had their opening score of the half, from Mark Bergin in the 45th minute.

Even then Kilkenny looked a beaten team.

DUBLIN:F McGarry; R Walsh, D Kelly, O Gough; P Kelly, R O'Carroll, M Quilty (0-1); C Clinton (0-1), P Buckeridge (0-1); S Stapleton (0-7, five frees, one 65), L Rushe (0-1), D Plunkett (0-1); D Treacy (0-1), D Quinn (0-2), N McMorrow (0-2). Subs: B O'Rourke (0-1) for Treacy (inj) 20th min; C Brennan for N McMorrow 47th min; A McEnerney for Quinn 58th min; D Whelan for Buckeridge 59th min.

KILKENNY:C McGrath; A Cuddihy, C Fogarty, R Doyle; PJ Rowe, K Mooney, D Langton; P Murphy (0-2), C Fennelly; M Bergin (0-7, frees), JJ Dunphy, L Ryan; E Murphy (0-2, one free), W Walsh, J Nolan. Subs: M Walsh for D Langton 36th min; M Maloney for L Ryan 37th min; T Breen for JJ Dunphy 43rd min; A Stapleton (0-1) for Nolan 43rd min; G Brennan for M Bergin (inj) 55th min.

Referee:F Smith (Meath).