Damien Reck, Wexford, and Martin Keoghan, Kilkenny, in Leinster SHC action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Kilkenny 1-24 Wexford 2-20
By Paul Keane at UPMC Nowlan Park
Not for the first time, Kilkenny have reason to thank veteran talisman TJ Reid whose 1-13 tally helped the Cats to a hugely significant win, securing their return to the Leinster SHC final.
Reid struck all of his scores from placed balls with his goal from a 52nd minute penalty helping to open up a six-point lead, a cushion the Cats relied upon late on as brave Wexford rallied.
Keith Rossiter's side, who needed a win on their travels to reach the final themselves, got the gap down to just a point late on, but time simply ran out of them as Kilkenny breathed sighs of relief.
All is not lost for the 2019 provincial winners who have finished third in the table and, as a result, will advance to an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final tie against Laois or Offaly.
Kilkenny's reward for not just winning this game but going through the province unbeaten is a Leinster final clash with Dublin at Croke Park.
With the tie billed as a de facto Leinster semi-final beforehand the terms of engagement were clear, it was win or bust. The consolation of potentially finishing third in the table and still reaching the All-Ireland series didn't seem to appeal to either side.
And with traffic tailbacks all the way from the ground right out to the motorway an hour before throw-in, it was clear that winning meant everything to the travelling Wexford fans too.
They gave roars of approval throughout the first-half as the Model County, fresh off big wins over Carlow and Galway, opened encouragingly and sped five points clear at one stage.
Kilkenny were ahead briefly on a couple of occasions in the opening quarter, but it was Wexford that were largely on top.
Lee Chin, the Championship's top scorer, started on the edge of the square initially and was picked up by Huw Lawlor but the Wexford forwards consistently rotated positions to keep the Kilkenny backs on their toes.
Cian Byrne, back in the Wexford attack after suspension, was marked by Mikey Butler and escaped his man for two tidy points in the first-half.
Cathal Dunbar wore nine but played in attack again and sniped a brace of points also with clear daylight emerging between the teams when Conor McDonald netted in the 21st minute.
Eoin Cody kicked himself for gifting possession away to Damien Reck who was sweeping for Wexford at the time, allowing the number six to play a long ball back downfield which McDonald grabbed and fired to the net.
Dunbar added a point and suddenly Wexford led 1-8 to 0-6. TJ Reid had an off day by his standards in last weekend's win over Dublin and started slowly here, giving a hand-pass away and then drilling a poor wide.
But he eventually found his range and finished the half with five points, all from frees.
Paddy Deegan, forming a midfield partnership with Cian Kenny, nailed a couple from long range too with the wind assisting the Cats in the opening half.
Kilkenny hit the last three points of the first-half to cut Wexford's lead to two at the interval, 1-11 to 0-12.
Carrying that momentum into the second-half, they wiped the deficit out entirely by the 42nd minute and a terrific Deegan, who hit 0-3 overall, score from just inside his own half nudged Kilkenny ahead soon after, 0-16 to 1-12.
Kilkenny were now operating with half-time sub Conor Fogarty at midfield beside Richie Reid, with Kenny pushed to wing-forward and Tom Phelan benched.
They took over completely and the penalty conversion helped them open up a 1-20 to 1-14 lead with 15 minutes to go. Wexford looked down and out but responded brilliantly and a 65th minute Byrne goal hauled them right back into it.
Conor Hearne hit the last point of the game to leave just a point in it, but time simply ran out for Wexford.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-13 (1-0pen, 12fs, 1 sideline), Paddy Deegan 0-3, Billy Ryan 0-3, John Donnelly 0-1, Richie Reid 0-1, Martin Keoghan 0-1, Mikey Carey 0-1, Eoin Cody 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-7 (6fs), Cian Byrne 1-3, Conor McDonald 1-2, Rory O'Connor 0-2, Cathal Dunbar 0-2, Liam Og McGovern 0-1, Kevin Foley 0-1, Jack O'Connor 0-1, Conor Hearne 0-1.
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Mikey Carey; Paddy Deegan, Cian Kenny; John Donnelly, TJ Reid, Tom Phelan; Eoin Cody, Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan.
Subs: Conor Fogarty for Phelan h/t, Walsh Walsh for Keoghan 62, Owen Wall for Ryan 72, Harry Shine for Kenny 73.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Matthew O'Hanlon, Liam Ryan, Shane Reck; Conor Foley, Damien Reck, Eoin Ryan; Conor Hearne, Richie Lawlor; Rory O'Connor, Liam Og McGovern, Cathal Dunbar; Cian Byrne, Lee Chin, Conor McDonald.
Subs: Simon Donohoe for O'Hanlon 45-47 blood, Kevin Foley for Lawlor 52, Jack O'Connor for Dunbar 56, Charlie McGuckin for McGovern 60.
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
