Martin Keoghan of Kilkenny shoots past Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning to score his side's first goal, in the 23rd minute, during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Wexford and Kilkenny at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Kilkenny 2-17 Wexford 0-15
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Two-goal Martin Keoghan was the chief gunslinger as Kilkenny returned to winning ways in Division 1A of the Allianz hurling league with Saturday’s derby success over Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Keoghan, the Cats’ hottest property right with 2-12 from three games, rattled the hosts with two first-half blows which carved out a decisive 2-10 to 0-4 half-time position.
Gutsy Wexford, still minus Lee Chin and Kevin Foley together with losing Rory O’Connor and Simon Donohoe through injury in the opening-half, made a sterling effort in the closing period, only to be left to count the cost of their earlier struggles.
Keith Rossiter’s men now face a real battle to avoid demotion as they face into trips to Clare and Limerick while hosting Galway in between.
Kilkenny have a break next weekend, but Derek Lyng’s charges are very much back in the hunt to atone for last year’s defeat in the league decider.
And victory for the Cats ends a run of seven visits to Slaneyside without a victory over their neighbours since a league semi-final in 2018 – Wexford having won five and drawing two derbies in between.
Centre-back Mikey Carey featured amongst a settling blast of early Kilkenny points, as Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody (free) and Cian Kenny chipped in with four points without reply inside four minutes.
Wexford were destined not to score from play for the entire half, with Cian Byrne mustering their first response from a free earned by Connal Flood after ten minutes.
A far more vibrant Kilkenny were threatening to unleash real hurt, and while Billy Ryan was twice denied – including by the woodwork – the Cats got the cream on 23 minutes when Keoghan pounced for his first major.
It followed a clearance from Paddy Deegan being shipped on by Stephen Donnelly as Keoghan landed a considerable 1-6 to 0-1 yield.
And Keoghan drove the lead out to 2-7 to 0-2 on 29 minutes when Billy Ryan sent him clear as the black and amber transformed a harmless delivery into further punishment for the home-side.
Kilkenny eventually tripped to the changing-rooms 2-10 to 0-4 clear at the halfway stage.
Wexford responded spiritedly after the change-of-ends, and Cathal Dunbar sent over a succulent line-ball amid an unbroken five point burst by the locals which cut the gap to 2-15 to 0-15 with increasing encouragement for their loyal followers amongst the 4,561 attendance.
But Eoin Cody’s relatively trusty dead-ball shooting – only messing up two placed balls – safeguarded Kilkenny’s first victory on Wexford soil in eight attempts.
Scorers for Wexford: Cian Byrne 0-6 (frees), Mark Fanning 0-3 (frees), Richie Lawlor 0-2, Conor Hearne, Simon Roche, Cathal Dunbar (line-ball), Seamus Casey (free) 0-1 each
Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Cody 0-8 (frees), Martin Keoghan 2-0, Cian Kenny 0-3, Billy Ryan 0-2, Mikey Carey, Jordan Molloy, Harry Shine, Billy Drennan 0-1 each
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey (0-1), Paddy Deegan; Killian Doyle, Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan; Stephen Donnelly, Eoin Cody, Harry Shine. Subs: Billy Drennan for Donnelly (56), Eoghan Lyng for Keoghan (56), Peter Connellan for Deegan (63), Billy Reid for Carey (67), Niall Shortall for Ryan (67).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Conor Foley, Simon Donohoe; Cathal Dunbar, Damien Reck, Richie Lawlor; Charlie McGuckin, Conor Hearne; Darren Codd, Jack Redmond, Cian Byrne; Connal Flood, Rory O’Connor, Corey Byrne-Dunbar. Subs: Cian Molloy for Donohoe (15), Cillian Byrne for O’Connor (23), Simon Roche for Codd (HT), Seamus Casey for Flood (51), James Byrne for Byrne-Dunbar (68).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
