Wexford 2-25 Kilkenny 2-25
When Conor McDonald pointed in the final seconds of additional time Wexford achieved much more than a draw following an exciting clash with arch rivals Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup senior hurling group game played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
McDonald’s last gasp point ensured mathematics came into play. With Wexford having a 12-point victory over Laois, compared to Kilkenny’s six point margin over the same opposition, it was enough to send the Model County through to a final clash with Dublin in Croke Park.
Both sides introduced a number of newcomers. Many questions were answered through an exciting 70 minutes, with Wexford having the better of the early exchanges in both halves.
After James Bergin, free, and Conal Flood had exchanged opening points, Wexford went on to lead 0-10 to 0-9 at the first water break. When play resumed, Rory Higgins was fouled as he moved in on goal leaving Mark Fanning to beat his opposite number from the resulting penalty to give the home side a 1-11 to 0-9 lead. It was Wexford who finished the half strongest to lead 1-16 to 0-12 at the interval.
Cian Byrne opened the second half scoring. When Wexford seemed to be coasting, leading 1-18 to 0-12, Kilkenny responded with a 42nd minute Conor Bolger goal. Momentum was with Wexford, and when sub Cathal Dunbar combined with Mikie Dwyer to shoot home a tremendous goal, Wexford led 2-19 to 1-15 after 52 minutes.
Typical Kilkenny stormed back in the closing 10 minutes with sub Cold Prenderville scoring five minutes from the end to tie the sides at 2-22 apiece. In additional time a Cian Kenny pointed free had the visitors in front, but then came McDonald’s saving point.
Wexford: M Fanning (1-0 pen); S Donohoe, L Ryan, C Devitt; C Flood (0-4), P Foley, M O'Hanlon (0-1); K Foley, J O'Connor; O Foley (0-5), C McGuckin (0-1), C Hearne (0-1); C Byrne (0-3, two frees), C McDonald (0-6), R Higgins (0-1). Subs: M Dwyer for Hearne (half-time), H Kehoe (0-1) for Byrne (46 mins), P Morris (0-2, one free) for Higgins (46 mins), C Dunbar (1-0) for O'Connor (50 mins), D Dunne for O Foley (55 mins), A Doyle for McGuckin (61 mins), B Edwards for P Foley (67 mins).
Kilkenny: D Brennan; C Wallace, T Walsh, M Butler; J Maher, H Lawlor, C Buckley; C Kenny (0-4 frees), M Carey; P Walsh, E O'Shea (0-3), J Donnelly (0-4); J Bergin (0-7 frees), M Keoghan (0-3), C Bolger (1-1). Subs: W Walsh (0-2) for Bergin (42 mins), R Buckley (0-1), for Carey (47 mins), D Blanchfield for C Buckley (53 mins), C Prenderville (1-0) for O'Shea (55 mins).
Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin).
Galway 1-23 Antrim 1-17
Galway ended pre-season on a high with a six point win over Antrim in Group A of the Walsh Cup.
The impact of substitutes Greg Thomas and Jack Hastings will please new manager Henry Shefflin no end, as the pair landed a brace apiece in a five unanswered point sequence late in the second half.
That scoring run was enough to push the game beyond the Saffrons who were in contention up until that point.
Antrim were much the livelier side in the first half, half back Padraig Burke impressing with two points but Darren Gleeson’s side found themselves trailing 13 to 10 at the break thanks to the accuracy of Cathal Mannion from placed balls and three John Fleming points in the second quarter.
Fleming would find the net in the 42nd minute after a sumptuous pass from another experienced Galway player, Conor Whelan. Antrim went level in the very next attack through Michael Bradley who fired in the rebound after Eanna Murphy stopped a powerful Eoin O’Neill shot.
With the game opened up, Galway introduced their match winning subs to edge the contest. Antrim, true to form, would respond with plucky replacements of their own, Ciaran Clarke, Conal Mohill and Ciaran Johnston all finding the target in their third loss this season.
Galway: E Murphy; D Cronin, D Burke, J Grealish; T Killeen, P Mannion, M Gill (0-1); J Cooney (0-2), C Caulfield (0-1); C Mannion (0-6, three frees, one 65'), N Burke (0-1), T Monaghan (0-3); C Whelan, J Fleming (1-3), G Lee (0-1). Subs: S Ryan for Gill (60 mins), J Coen for Caulfield (49), J Hastings (0-2) for N Burke (50), G Thomas (0-2) for Fleming (52), C Killeen for C Mannion (65), D Nevin for T Killeen (68), John Cooney for Lee (68), S Loftus for Joe Cooney (70), D Kilcommins (0-1) for Monaghan (70),
Antrim: R Elliott; D Kearney, G Walsh, A Crawford; P Burke (0-2), E Campbell, J Maskey; D McKernan K Molloy (0-2); N McManus (0-2, one 65'), E O'Neill (0-1), M Bradley (1-1); S Elliott (0-2), C McCann, J McNaughton (0-4, 3frees). Subs: N O'Connor for Kearney (33 mins), C Johnston (0-1) for McCann (47), C Clarke (0-1,free) for O'Neill (50), C Cunning for McNaughton (50), C Bohill (0-1) for McKernan (57), S Walsh for Bradly (63), S Rooney for Crawford (63), D Murphy for S Elliot (63), R McCambridge for McManus (66),
Referee: K Brady (Louth).
