LEINSTER MHC/Final Kilkenny 2-15 Wexford 2-8: The technically mature Kilkenny minors left Croke Park yesterday happy with their day's work after retaining the provincial crown and, in so doing, claim a 47th Leinster title.
The crowd had hardly settled when the champions began to assert huge pressure on the Wexford cover with sharp-shooter Richie Power taking a point from a penalty chance and adding another on his way to compiling six in all with the placed ball.
Robbie Dowling missed a sitter, but Kilkenny went four points clear in six minutes. Willie O'Dwyer's stunning goal, following a determined solo, gave the champions a 1-7 to 0-4 lead.
Kilkenny were then made to believe that they had a match on their hands as Wexford upped a gear. Richie Flynn and Pierce White both pointed, while, at the other end, Damien Granell pulled off a brilliant save from James Fitzpatrick..
A first-time pull close in by Pat Doran produced the goal that Wexford badly needed and Kilkenny were shaking their heads going to the dressing-room at half-time with only a point to spare, 1-8 to 1-7.
Kilkenny's superior strength down the middle eventually paid off, but, in fairness to Wexford, they never allowed their more impressive opponents to run away with it until the brilliance of Kilkenny's key men brought about the seven-points difference in the end.
Two typical examples of Wexford's tenacity came early in the second half.
They drew level with a Richie Flynn point on the resumption and, after Kilkenny raced to a three-point lead within as many minutes, Wexford again struck back with a Pat Doran goal.
The Kilkenny full-back line of Padraig Holden, John Tennyson and David Prendergast along with PJ Delaney at centre back and Michael Rice were particularly impressive. Attack leader Willie O'Dwyer and, of course, Power's dead-ball scoring were also a main factor.
Kilkenny's tally of 17 wides, though, must be addressed.
KILKENNY: C Grant; P Holden, J Tennyson, D Prendergast; K Nolan, PJ Delaney, C Hoyne; M Rice (0-2), S Maher; A Healy, W O'Dwyer (2-1), S Coonan (0-2); J Fitzpatrick (0-2), R Power 0-6 (pen and frees). R Dowling (0-1). Subs: E Reid (0-1) for Dowling (38 mins); T Frisby for Maher (47); S Dowling for Fitzpatrick (51).
WEXFORD: D Granell; J Roche, C Kenny, B Mulligan; D O'Leary, A Kavanagh, A Murphy; P Doran (2-0), R Frayne (0-1); P White (0-1), J O'Loughlin, G O'Grady (0-1); R Flynn (0-5, all frees), D Foran, M Kelly. Subs: M Heffernan for Mulligan (35 mins); J Codd for Doran (38); W Whelan for O'Loughlin (47); M Byrne for O'Grady (55).
Referee: G Harrington (Cork).
