Byrne’s strike proves vital in Model revival
Kilkenny unable to keep visting Wexford at arm’s length
KILKENNY 2-16 WEXFORD 2-16
NOT for the first time, the allure of Munster meant that these fierce Leinster rivals were overlooked in terms of the live television slot.
No matter. While Clare and Cork took the primetime billing, this pair produced another cracker to fit alongside Wexford’s thrilling Championship win over the Leinster champions in last year’s provincial round robin, not to mention the historic victory at Nowlan Park the previous summer.
A share of the spoils this time felt fair after a slow-burner came to the boil in drama-packed fashion, the last 10 minutes alone featuring enough incident and accident to send the 8,224 attendance home with plenty to talk about.
Like Conor Foley impressing for Wexford at full-back and popping up outfield to hit a couple of cracking points – the second an inspirational equaliser with five minutes of normal time left. Or substitute Cian Byrne pouncing to bundle the ball over the line in added time after Eoin Murphy had produced an All-Star save from Lee Chin’s ground shot.
That all came after Kilkenny looked to have weathered the Wexford comeback to hit for two goals on the counter into the strong wind — both came from the penalty spot from substitute Billy Drennan who made a critical impact when introduced. Both of his strikes were clinically dispatched to the same corner, goalkeeper Mark Fanning having little chance with low bouncing shots. The second penalty incident saw Damien Reck pick up a black card to go with is first yellow and be sent off — it was tough a player so influential throughout.
But still there was time for one last twist — again involving Brennan.
Wexford were pinged for a foul on David Blanchfield. Up stepped Brennan but his shot from just under 60 metres wasn’t that cleanly hit and dropped short.
Wexford survived to gain a share of the spoils.
And yet the first half had little quality, packed full of awkward rucks and multiple attempts to pick the ball up due to a poor first touch. Early doors, you could see why TJ Reid hasn’t retired. Kilkenny were really missing his vision and ability to link the play.
However, they did hit four points in a row midway through the half. Martin Keoghan sniped a score from the left along with three Eoin Cody deadballs to surge 0-6 to 0-2 ahead.
It was important for Wexford to stem the tide and James Byrne shot over under pressure.
Kilkenny stretched ahead, 0-8 to 0-4, but there was plenty of pace about the Wexford counter with Damien Reck influential at six.
Séamus Casey then produced the score of the game up to that stage, cutting the ball over the bar into the wind.
Factor in two missed frees from Chin which really should have been converted and Wexford were right in this. That they were Wexford’s only wides showed how economical they were with their shooting. A point from Adrian Mullen left it Kilkenny 0-9 Wexford 0-5. It didn’t take Wexford long to cut the gap in half, full-back Foley popping up way upfield to take the pick of four quick scores on the breeze. By the time Cian Molloy banged one over from distance with 45 gone, the deficit was down to just one. Then came the first Wexford goal with Séamus Casey batting it to the bottom corner of the net. Suddenly Wexford had their noses in front, 1-11 to 0-12. Kilkenny responded with a couple of frees from Billy Drennan who rifled home his first penalty in the 54th minute. It came after Martin Keoghan turned marker Niall Murphy and cut in along the endline before being fouled. Back came Wexford, substitute Tomás Kinsella hitting two terrific points on the breeze, just as
Cian Molloy had done earlier.
Foley then hit an inspirational equaliser from inside his own half before Reck was black carded for pulling down Billy Ryan. When Drennan coolly slotted his second penalty home, Wexford needed another big play. It came after Chin’s snapshot rebounded to Byrne to finish.
Drennan could have won it at the death but his late free dropped short and Wexford had a share of the spoils as both teams look to finish in the top three in the group that will guarantee top-flight status next year. KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Moylan, D Corcoran, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid (M Carey 72), J Molloy; C Kenny (C Buckley 66), K Blanchfield (C Fogarty 48); A Mullen, E Cody, C Heary; H Shine (B Drennan 49), B Ryan, M Keoghan. SCORERS: B Drennan 2-3 (3fs, 2-0 pens), E Cody 0-7 (5fs, 1 65), A Mullen 0-2, B Ryan 0-1, M Keoghan 0-1, C Kenny 0-1, K Blanchfield 0-1 each WIDES: 7 (2) WEXFORD: M Fanning; N Murphy, C Foley, E Ryan; C McGuckin, D Reck, C Molloy; C Hearne (S Reck 42), C Byrne Dunbar (C Byrne 56); J O’Connor (T Kinsella 46), L Chin, K Foley; J Byrne (C Dunbar 64), R Lawlor, S Casey. SCORERS: L Chin 0-4 (4fs), S Casey 1-2, C Byrne 1-1, T Kinsella, C Molloy, C Foley 0-2 each, C Byrne Dunbar, K Foley, J Byrne 0-1 each YELLOW CARD: C Molloy 18, D Reck 53, C Foley 55 BLACK CARD: 70. RED CARD: D Reck 70 WIDES: 2 (2) REFEREE: T Gleeson (Dublin) ATTENDANCE: 8,224