Minors march on
Semi showdown with Dubs up next
WEXFORD KILDARE 2-21 0-12
WEXFORD WERE given few problems by a limited Kildare side as they advanced to the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor hurling championship semi-final in St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on Saturday.
James Sheil’s side simply had too much hurling know-how for the Lilywhites, despite the home team giving a decent account of themselves, especially when the energy was high at the start of both halves.
It wasn’t always pretty but any day you are able to miss several clear goal chances and still win without going near top gear must be a good one. Of course, Wexford are going to have a tougher time in Saturday’s semi-final against Dublin but you can only beat what’s put in front of you.
Management will be happy with how their midfield functioned. Cian Molloy and Jack Kirwan were a real bundle of energy, as they created plenty, they scored and took turns in adding an extra body in the attacking third.
Ahead of those, A.J. Redmond and David Cantwell gave the three-man Kildare full-back line a torrid time. Both missed golden opportunities to net in the first-half before the Rathnure lad bagged a brace of goals.
Defensively the full-back line was rarely over-exerted. With Rory Scallan immovable at full-back, Kildare never even went close to troubling the composed and assured Darragh Hayes between the sticks for Wexford.
The biggest disappointment for Wexford was the dismissal of Shane Walsh in the 14th minute. It was a call made by the umpire behind the town end goal for an altercation with his marker off the ball.
Dublin’s Chris Mooney is on the Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup refereeing panel but it’s hard to know how on his first-half showing. After dismissing Walsh, Mooney brandished a yellow card in a very similar situation when Liam Dempsey drilled Feidhlim Roche with his hurl off the ball.
That came moments after he gave Kildare’s Rossa Stapleton a second yellow card for a wild chop. By the letter of the law it was a yellow card offence but he ignored other similar challenges. It just felt like this was his opportunity to even the numbers and he was happy to take it.
Yet arguably the most frustrating aspect of his performance was refusing to brandish cards for the constant pulling and dragging on the Wexford inside forwards. A.J. Redmond might have started with a small size jersey but it was a stretched to a good medium by the interval.
Wexford never trailed in this game, with Jack Kirwan opening the scoring in the second minute after being fed by Shane Walsh.
David Cantwell stole possession from Alo Hackett moments later but was called for over-carrying when he looked to drive towards the empty net.
Noel Rowsome started the move that ended with Richie Lawlor pointing in the fourth minute. Conan Boran responded with Kildare’s lone point from play of the half but Zac Firman’s opener made it 0-3 to 0-1.
Kildare goalkeeper Hackett needed to be brave several times in the opening half. The first occasion was when Redmond got in and fired into his body. After Tomás Murphy made it 0-4 to 0-2, Cantwell was next to be denied by the stopper.
It was 0-6 to 0-3 when Walsh was sent off in the 14th minute but it didn’t halt the Wexford momentum. In fact, they doubled down their efforts and began to pull clear.
Three dead-balls in a row were followed by an Owen Whitty point as the visitors moved 0-10 to 0-3 ahead.
Lawlor had been denied by Hackett in that spell but the hosts’ ‘keeper was fortunate when Redmond’s effort squirmed past him and out for a ‘65 in the 23rd minute. Molloy converted the resulting placed ball, while Redmond scored his third free to make it 0-12 to 0-4 late in the half.
Stapleton was dismissed in the 30th minute, just before Kirwan popped over a classy point. Having wasted all those earlier chances, Wexford finally found the net deep into added-time when Redmond fired his low penalty home after he was fouled when bearing down on goal again.
With Wexford leading by 1-13 to 0-5 at the resumption, the second-half was a lot less dramatic. Kildare did get five of the first seven points but they never looked like turning around the eleven-point deficit.
Cian Molloy’s free made it 1-16 to 0-10 in the 43rd minute, and neither side added to that scoreline until Liam Dempsey scored a stunning line ball with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
Moments after he had responded to that Kildare point with a free, Redmond sauntered in on the right, after good work by Noel Rowsome and Jack Kehoe in the build-up, and the Rathnure clubman thumped a rocket past Hackett.
That was the end of the Kildare resistance. Josh Sheil registered a super point, Molloy brought his tally to five, Kehoe got in on the scoring act, and Zac Firman wrapped up a fine individual performance with his third point in the time remaining.
Wexford will now have a chance to avenge their 0-16 to 1-10 group defeat when they meet Dublin in the semi-final in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday (2 p.m.). A place against the winners of Kilkenny and Offaly awaits the victors.
Wexford: Darragh Hayes (Oulart-The Ballagh); Feidhlim Roche (Blackwater), Rory Scallan (Ferns St. Aidan’s, joint capt.), Noel Rowsome (Monageer-Boolavogue); Shane Walsh (St. Martin’s), David Codd (St. Martin’s), Eanna Doyle (Cloughbawn); Cian Molloy (Naomh Eanna, 0-5, 3 frees, 1 ‘65), Jack Kirwan (Rapparees, 0-2); Owen Whitty (St. James’, 0-2), Tomás Murphy (Blackwater, 0-1), Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers, 0-1); A.J. Redmond (Rathnure, 2-5, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen.), Zac Firman (St. Martin’s, joint capt., 0-3), David Cantwell (St. Martin’s). Subs. - Cian Browne (Naomh Eanna) for Roche (39), Jack Kehoe (Horeswood, 0-1) for Murphy (48), Paddy Whitty (Cloughbawn) for Cantwell (50), Josh Sheil (Faythe Harriers, 0-1) for Kirwan (55), Charlie Tector (Rathnure) for O. Whitty (55), also Cian Byrne (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Dylan O’Neill (Shelmaliers), Patrick O’Connor (Blackwater), Kevin Breen (St. Anne’s).
Kildare: Alo Hackett; Daniel Murray, Eoghan Dempsey, Cian Shanahan; Ben Noone, Kevin Kelleher (capt.), Drew Costello; Harry Dunne, Conan Boran (0-1); Muiris Curtin (0-5 frees), Liam Dempsey (0-4, 3 frees, 1 line ball), Rossa Stapleton; Michael McGovern, Shane Whyte (0-1), Ferran O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs. - Jack Cleary for Dunne (19), Matthew Eustace for Shanahan (31), Daragh Melville for O’Sullivan (47), Jack Higgins for Whyte (56), John McKeown for Noone (58).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).