GAELIC GAMES LEINSTER UNDER-21 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP: Wexford 1-16, Kilkenny 2-12
AN EMMET Kent 61st-minute pointed free off the sideline saw Wexford emerge victorious against their arch-rivals in an enthralling semi-final at Wexford Park yesterday evening.
It took more than good hurling to separate the two sides during a thrilling and tense opening 30 minutes, with referee Pat Murphy incurring the wrath of the crowd with some of his decisions.
During this opening period he issued six yellow cards and two reds, one to each side – Michael ORegan (Wexford) after 20 minutes and Kilkenny’s Ger Aylward six minutes later.
Wexford went 0-4 to 0-0 clear inside six minutes through Pádraig Doran, Michael O’Regan, John Leacy (free), and Shane Tomkins, before Aylward flicked home a superb goal from a long Eoin Murphy free.
Wexford made a big breakthrough after 11 minutes when Paul Morris crashed home a superb goal, but Kilkenny responded with a superb Thomas Breen goal two minutes later.
Both sides continued to pick off superb points, but a Leacy point left the the home side leading 1-11 to 2-4 at the interval.
The Cats rose to the challenge on the resumption with four early points through Eoin Murphy (free), Cathal Kenny, Walter Walsh and sub Michael Moloney, to bring the sides level.
Wexford had to wait until the 41st minute for their opening second-half score, a Liam Óg McGovern point, and it was nip and tuck from then on in an enthralling battle, as Kilkenny keeper Dylan Walsh saved superbly from Shane Tomkins.
With two minutes remaining Wexford were battling to protect a single point lead, but when Michael Moloney pointed one minute from the end extra-time beckoned, until Kent’s free.
Next Up...
Wexford now move on to face Laois on June 22nd in the provincial semi-final. On the other side of the draw, Carlow host Dublin at Dr Cullen Park tonight (throw-in 7.30pm), with the winner taking on Offaly in the second semi-final on June 22nd.
W EXFORD: M Fanning; W Devereux, M O'Hanlon, E Moore; M O'Regan (0-1, free), A Shore, S Murphy (0-1); E Kent (0-3, frees), H Kehoe (0-1); S Tomkins (0-2), J Leacy (0-3, frees), L Óg McGovern (0-3); P Morris (1-1), J Breen, P Doran (0-1). Subs: J Gahan for Breen; I Byrne for Doran.
KILKENNY: D Walsh; I Duggan, M Walsh, A Moran; J Callinan, R Doyle, C Fogarty; J Lyng, O Walsh; T Breen (1-1), C Kenny (0-3), E Murphy (0-5, four frees); G Aylward (1-0), W Walsh (0-1), J Brennan. Subs: M Moloney (0-2) for Moran; B Kennedy for Callinan; P Walsh for Brennan; J Gannon for O Walsh.
Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).
