Kilkenny 7-16 Dublin 0-5
Croke Park hosted the first senior league or championship game under lights but for Dublin it proved to be a very disappointing night.
The side was competitive in the opening 30 minutes and trailed Kilkenny at the break by three goals. From a limited supply, the Dublin forwards had managed three points from play to go with two from placed balls. But after the resumption, the Dublin challenged evaporated.
The Kilkenny forwards went on a scoring spree adding 4-11 while Dublin failed to score in the half.
Kilkenny were dominate throughout the pitch particularly at midfield where Dublin simply had no answers to the brilliance of Katie Power and Ann Dalton. The Kilkenny defence were dominant and in all 11 players got on the score sheet with Shelly Farrell bagging 3-2.
The big open spaces of Croke Park suited the more experienced Kilkenny side. Coupled with this was the fact that several of the Kilkenny girls have enjoyed the benefit of competitive camogie with Ashbourne Cup teams in recent weeks.
Dublin went into the game without a competitive game and lost key player Alison Maguire with an injury before the game. Amy Murphy also struggled with an injury but she managed a fine point after 8 minutes from a pass by Aisling Carolan to leave the side trailing by 0-4 to 0-1.
However a goal by Aoife Neary in the 11th minute put Kilkenny in the driving seat. Louise O'Hara added Dublin's second point in the 18th minute and at this stage Dublin were hurling reasonably well with Tara Corrigan, Elaine O'Meara and Helen Cosgrave in goals doing well.
But on too many occasions, Dublin committed errors and the All-Ireland runners up of two years ago made them pay dearly.
In a two minutes spel in the 21 and 23 minutes goals by Lizzy Lyng and Denise Gaule effectively sealed the result. But Dublin showed great battling qualities for the closing 7 minutes and with Ciara Lucey acting as an extra defender, the Dubs struck the last three points of the half - a fine score by Aisling Carolan, a point from a penalty by Ciara Lucey and a free by Louise O'Hara to leave Kilkenny leading by 3-5 to 0-5 at the interval.
Amy Murphy was forced to retire with a hamstring injury and her loss was felt.
Within 5 minutes of the restart Kilkenny had added 1-2 with the goal coming from Shelly Farrell and Dublin's were not able to rally.
The Kilkenny midfield and half-back formed an impenetrable barrier and the Dublin full-forward were starved of any chances.
Kilkenny were full of confidence and could do no wrong and finished the game off in style with three goals in the closing 7 minutes from Shelly Farrell (2) and Denise Gaule.
It was a tough lesson for the Dublin team for whom debutante Aoife Kelly did well with Helen Cosgrave, Aisling Carolan and Ciara Burgess competing gallantly.
Well done to all the clubs who brought the biggest crowd to a Dublin league game in years and to Good Counsel, Naomh Maur and Thomas Davis Under 11s who starred in the Mini Games.
Dublin
Helen Cosgrave, Elaine O'Meara, Tara Corrigan, Sarah Ryan, Elaine Ryan, Catriona Power, Danielle Smith, Ciara Burgess, Aine Fanning, Aoife Kelly, Ciara Lucey (0-1f), Louise O'Hara (0-2, 1f), Amy Murphy (0-1), Fiona Hayes, Aisling Carolan (0-1)
Subs: Sinead O'Toole for Fanning; Hannah McInerney for Murphy; Rachel Costello for Hayes; Gráinne Quinn for Elaine Ryan, Susan Kennedy for Sarah Ryan.
Kilkenny Scorers: Shelly Farrell (3-2); Denise Gaule (1-3); Claire Phelan (1-3, 1f); Lizzy Lyng (1-0); Aoife Neary (1-0); Katie Power (0-3); Marie O'Connor (0-2); Marie Dargan (0-1), Collette Dormer (0-1), Ann Dalton (0-1)
Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare)