Second-half collapse
Wexford into preliminary quarter-final
o the second period y cut out an attemped uck a brilliant longChin added his third crossfield delivery g from that point onexpended up to that ake a lot out of the half spark gradually dit must go to Kilkeners really stepped up of winning appeared he 51st minutes they he trot, all bar one of rkable T.J. Reid who Scanlon pass outfield om frees. at run was an inspiring Walsh as the full-back efence before driving from midfield. ally arrived for Wexn Aidan Nolan led to verting an 80-metre int in 16 minutes (1- entless though, and from distance before d a Liam Blanchfield and Reid sent over ualised in the 58th utfield by Reid found rrissey who put them ead. he advantage after dn’t work, but Rory to reply from a free n Murphy. d Pádraig Foley (free) d it was edge-of-youre entered the last five extra. d a difficult free from deline before a stray pass was punished and Kilkenny moved 0-21 to 1-16 clear.
A throw by Joey Holden, just as Pádraig Walsh was thundering down the centre, gave Pádraig Foley the chance to make it a one-point game again, but that elusive equaliser simply wouldn’t come.
The gap of two was restored when a long ball by Paul Murphy broke kindly for John Donnelly, but Foley hit back from his own 65-metre line after earning the free himself.
Just one more point would have been enough for Wexford, and the last chance of getting it arrived when T.J. Reid was penalised for barging in the left corner.
Mark Fanning launched the free into the opposition half, but when Richie Leahy emerged with the ball it was game over and the visitors were left to ruefully reflect on what might have been.
The players will be delighted with the rest after an energy-sapping four weeks, and they will learn their next opponents when Westmeath face Carlow in the inaugural Joe McDonagh Cup final which will be played in Croke Park on Leinster final day, July 1.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Damien Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Firman; Shaun Murphy; Matthew O’Hanlon (joint capt.), Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-1), Pádraig Foley (0-5, 4 frees); Kevin Foley (0-1), Aidan Nolan; Rory O’Connor (0-5, 2 frees), Lee Chin (joint capt., 0-3), David Dunne; Paul Morris (1-1), Conor McDonald (0-2). Subs. - Harry Kehoe for K. Foley (54), Jack O’Connor for Dunne (54), Simon Donohoe for O’Keeffe (63), Shane Tomkins for Morris (70).
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy (0-1 free); Paul Murphy, Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Paddy Deegan; Enda Morrissey (0-1), Cillian Buckley (capt.), Conor O’Shea; Conor Fogarty (0-2), James Maher (0-1); Walter Walsh, Colin Fennelly, T.J. Reid (0-11, 9 frees, 1 ’65); Bill Sheehan, Richie Hogan, Luke Scanlon. Subs. - Joey Holden (01) for O’Shea (HT), Martin Keoghan for Fennelly (HT), Richie Leahy (0-2) for Hogan (HT), Liam Blanchfield for Sheehan (46), John Donnelly (0-2) for Scanlon (65).
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).