With the start of the National Hurling League less than a fortnight away, two of the game's heavier weights had a good workout in yesterday's Walsh Cup semi-final at Mullinavat. On a sunny afternoon and a good surface, Wexford's more serious intent was the factor separating the teams.
A stronger, more experienced line-out and greater appetite for the action were the most obvious signs of this intent and there was little doubt about the result throughout the match. Even a third-quarter push which saw Kilkenny cut the margin to two points was repelled when Larry Murphy struck for a goal in the 41st minute and that score settled the issue.
Neither side will spend much time analysing the action. Wexford looked more urgent from the throw-in. They also had the encouragement of a vigorous performance by newcomer Darragh Ryan at centre back and some telling contributions from older hands Larry O'Gorman and Tom Dempsey.
O'Gorman found his swashbuckling rhythm from the start, flinging his physical presence around with abandon and hurling a pile of ball - admittedly to the apparent indifference of PJ Delaney who was eventually substituted.
Although he wasn't the epitome of accuracy and was even verging on anonymity for long spells, Dempsey turned up the heat when the match needed to be put away and posed a growing threat in the right corner. Despite putting a couple of scoreable frees wide, he still ended up with 0-7 to his name from dead-ball opportunities.
Kilkenny's new manager Brian Cody said afterwards that he wouldn't be according too much significance to the match. "We've only started back a couple of weeks and have very little hurling done."
John Power's return to action wasn't distinguished by fireworks and he was replaced at half-time. By the end of the hour, the whole half-forward line had departed early but the sight of Power's wiry frame lining up before the match in an attacking spine with Henry Shefflin gave the Leinster champions a more imposing appearance than they have managed of late.
Twenty-year-old Shefflin, who has been scoring prolifically for Waterford IT had the advantage of Fitzgibbon Cup fitness but yesterday took a tutorial from Ger Cushe, a professor emeritus in the university of hard knocks.
Yet, the Ballyhale youngster plugged away gamely for a seven-point haul, three from play.
Wexford's slow rate of attrition resulted in a 0-4 to nil lead by the end of the first quarter and 0-6 to 0-2 by half-time. The winners could have settled matters early in the second half when firstly full forward Mitch Jordan - who spent the afternoon rounding John Costelloe almost at will - kicked a clearcut chance wide.
Three minutes later, in the 39th minute, Jordan threaded a beautifully-judged pass into Dempsey's path but again the attempt went wide.
Kilkenny were sufficiently encouraged by all this to trim the margin to two, 0-5 to 0-7 but in the 41st minute, Jordan again sliced in behind the cover and pulled the ball back for Rory McCarthy to crack it off the woodwork. Murphy followed it into the net.
Wexford: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, G Cushe, E Furlong; D Ruth, D Ryan, L O'Gorman; A Fenlon, S Colfer; R McCarthy (0-1), R Hassey, L Murphy (1-0); T Dempsey (0-7, all frees), M Jordan (0-2), E Scallan. Subs: G Buggy for Hassey (50 mins).
Kilkenny: J McGarry; J Butler, J Costelloe, M Kavanagh; A Comerford, E Kennedy, P Barry; S Grehan (0-1), P Larkin; PJ Delaney, J Power, B McEvoy; B Ryan (0-1), H Shefflin (0-7, four frees), K O'Shea. Subs: J Hoyne for Power (half-time); D Buggy for Delaney (52 mins); T Murphy for McEvoy (55 mins).
Referee: P Ahearne (Carlow).
