Any in the 10,000 crowd at Nowlan Park yesterday might have been tempted to take a cursory glance at the calendar. The day was showery and windy, but the splendour and competitive levels of the hurling strictly belonged to high summer as Kilkenny claimed their semi-final place in the Church and General National League.
It was one of those occasions when both managers had much to be pleased about. Brian Cody, the Kilkenny manager, said that he would be satisfied if his team could reproduce the type of commitment they displayed yesterday in the upcoming championship.
Wexford's boss, Rory Kinsella, was naturally disappointed about not winning, but pleased to see his team involved in "such a hellova game of hurling".
DJ Carey's scoring ambitions in the championship will surely be fulfilled by scoring a similar goal to the classic which he scored after 19 minutes.
His was one of numerous highlights in a non-stop fluent game. The overhead flicked goal by Gary Laffan, Wexford's late call-up, bore the stamp of Pete Sampras. Then there was the wizardry of Charlie Carter's play, not to mention the daring 50-metre run of Wexford corner back Larry O'Gorman, the midfield dominance of the versatile Denis Byrne, and the blockbuster last-minute save by James McGarry from a Tom Dempsey pile-driver. When it was apparent by half-time that Stephen Grehan was not the best midfield replacement for flu victim Phil Larkin, Andy Comerford was restored to the sector, John Power being introduced to lead the attack for the second half.
DJ Carey's first half goal was urgently needed at a time when Wexford, although playing into the wind, were on level terms into the second quarter. The score followed an explosive opening which saw Henry Shefflin, off a Carey free, crack home to the net after only 30 seconds. "This was a dreadful start for us," observed Kinsella, but the Wexford manager had reason to be pleased with his team's instant reply which saw Laffan and Martin Storey shoot rapid goals within little more than a minute, to put the visitors in front.
But from the moment Carey made a dazzling run for a superb goal, Wexford never got back on even terms.
Carey's goal sparked off a prolific closing 10 minutes in the first half for Kilkenny, who tacked on 1-6 before the break for a 2-9 to 2-2 interval lead. This decisive golden patch by the home side was interrupted only by a point each from Larry Murphy and Paul Codd (free).
Cody felt that the most significant score of the match was the goal scored by Charlie Carter two minutes into the second half as Kilkenny faced the wind.
"We had a seven-point cushion at half-time, but that was reduced to four within a minute of the restart (by a Chris McGrath goal). Suddenly we were seven points ahead again thanks to Charlie." A major factor was the manner in which the Kilkenny defence, marshalled by the ever-present Kennedy, and equally inspired by Johnny Butler and John Costelloe, got though their work in the second half. The Wexford defence was not as well organised when it faced the wind in the first half.
KILKENNY: J McGarry; J Butler, J Costelloe, W O'Connor; M Kavanagh, E Kennedy, P Barry (0-1); S Grehan (0-1), D Byrne (0-2); D J Carey (1 -1), A Comerford, B McEvoy (0-1); K O'Shea, H Shefflin (1-3 one free), C Carter (1-2). Sub: J Power (0-1) for Grehan (half-time).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; L O'Gorman, G Cushe, E Furlong; D Ruth, L Dunne, R Guiney; A Fenlon, R Quigley; L Murphy (0-1), M Storey (1-3), P Codd (0-3 frees); T Dempsey, G Laffin (1-0), C McGrath (1-0). Subs: R McCarthy (0-1) for Quigley (27 mins).
Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).
