Kilkenny march to semi-finals goes unchecked

Kilkenny 4-22
Wexford 2-16

Despite producing a spirited first-half performance, Wexford had little answer to a rampant Kilkenny on the resumption, eventually going under to a 12-point defeat at Wexford Park yesterday.

Kilkenny's victory was never in doubt once TJ Reid found the net within 30 seconds of the restart, killing off a Wexford revival that saw them reduce an eight-point deficit seven minutes from the interval to the minimum at the break.

Progressing
Brian Cody was clearly happy with the way the league has been progressing. "At the start we set out with two ambitions, to retain the league and give players as much game time as possible. We are achieving both goals as well as possible."

Wexford manager Liam Dunne admitted that Kilkenny were simply unstoppable in the second half. “I was very pleased with the way the first half went, particularly the closing 10 minutes when we hauled ourselves back to within a single point. But that early second-half goal was a killer blow.”

Wexford opened with a Diarmuid O’Keeffe goal inside 30 seconds of the start, but the Kilkenny response was immediate with Walter Walsh goaling in their first real attack. The reigning champions were leading 1-7 to 0-6 when T J Reid goaled after 21 minutes.

Kilkenny were looking comfortable at this stage but the homeside managed to lift their game through the point taking of Ian Byrne while the same player goaled five minutes before the break.

Within 30 seconds of the restart the game swung back Kilkenny’s way when Reid shot past Mark Fanning in the home goal.

Reid, Eoin Larkin, Jackie Tyrrell and Mark Kelly swung over points before Reid found the net with a 21-metre free.

As the Kilkenny performance grew, Wexford struggled for scores with Rory Jacob being their main marksman, but his goal 11 minutes from the end was just a consolation score.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, J J Delaney, J Holden; C Fogarty, J Tyrrell (0-1), K Joyce; P Walsh, R Hogan (0-1); W Walsh (1-2), C Fennelly, T J Reid (3-10, 1-6 frees, 0-1 65); R Power (0-2), M Kelly (0-2), E Larkin (0-2). Subs: M Fennelly (0-2) for Murphy (48 mins), B Hogan for Delaney (52 mins), H Shefflin for Larkin (58 mins), T Walsh for Fogarty (62 mins), A Fogarty for W Walsh (64 mins).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; K Rossiter, M O'Hanlon, E Moore; D O'Keeffe (0-1), L Chin, C Kenny; S Tomkins, H Kehoe (0-1); P Morris, C McDonald, I Byrne (1-8, 0-6 frees); R Jacob (1-3), J Guiney (0-1), L Óg McGovern (0-1). Subs: A Shore for Tomkins (17 mins), L Ryan for Rossiter (45 mins), P Doran (0-1) for Morris (47 mins); W Devereux for O'Keeffe (50 mins), E Martin for Kenny (55 mins).

Referee: C McAllister (Cork).