LEINSTER MHC FIRST ROUND Kilkenny 3-12 Wexford  0-15:KILKENNY POUNCED with two goals in the closing seven minutes to snatch a dramatic victory over Wexford in this Leinster minor hurling championship opening-round game at Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

Wexford opened impressively leading 0-6 to 0-1 after 18 minutes with points flowing from Joe Kelly, Michael O'Hanlon (two), Andrew Shore, Shane Tomkins and James Gahan, with Kilkenny's solitary response coming through Mark O'Dwyer.

The sides continued to trade points with Wexford leading 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Wexford continued to have the edge and still led 0-10 to 0-7 midway through the second half when Kilkenny struck for the equalising goal through substitute Peter McCarthy.

Wexford responded with points from Shore and Kelly, but goals from Canice Maher, seven minutes from the end, and substitute, Danny Purcell, five minutes later, secured a late Kilkenny victory.

Eoin Doyle helped himself to 1-4 as Wicklow registered d a comprehensive 2-19 to 0-5 victory over Kildare at Arklow.

KILKENNY:E Murphy; J Gannon, A Cuddihy, D Healy; R Doyle, M Walsh, C Fogarty; T Breen (0-2), M Moloney( 0-4, two frees, two, 65s); M O'Dwyer (0-1), M Fitzgerald, G Brennan (0-1); S Phelan, J Brennan (0-2), C Maher (1-0). Subs: C Kenny (0-1) for Fitzgerald; M. Gaffney for Moloney; P McCarthy (1-0) for G Brennan; D Purcell (1-1) for Phelan.

WEXFORD: M Fanning, W Devereux, J Leacy, I Curran; J Gahan (0-1), E Moore, S Murphy; A Shore (0-4, one free), H Kehoe; M Furlong, P Morris, P Kelly; J Kelly (0-3), S Tomkins (0-1), M O'Hanlon (0-5, four frees). Subs: A Waters for Gahan; D O'Keeffe (0-1) for Furlong.

Referee:A Lagrue (Kildare).