Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Wexford 4-23 Kilkenny 5-18

By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park

Wexford defied the threat of relegation from the Liam MacCarthy Cup with a closing burst of points to defy reigning provincial champions Kilkenny in Sunday’s closing round-robin Leinster SHC derby at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

While a quick brace of Liam Óg McGovern goals steered Wexford ahead 4-13 to 2-12 on 44 minutes, Kilkenny snapped back to lead 5-17 to 4-18 in the 62nd minute as Eoin Cody sank a double and Tom Phelan also netted.

Defeat would have relegated Wexford on the head-to-head against Westmeath after the latter had succumbed to Antrim.

But Wexford were lifted by a brace of points from captain Lee Chin, before substitute Cathal Dunbar cut over a line-ball, and Oisín Foley also chipped in to turn the tables decisively.

And so Darragh Egan’s troops emerge from the most testing of weeks after their defeat to Westmeath with their top-flight status retained, although their 2023 campaign is over.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, are eager to defend their provincial crown against Galway in a repeat of last year’s final.

It was Kilkenny who were most on song when charging 2-7 to 0-5 clear inside 17 minutes.

Eoin Cody led by captain’s example when combining with John Donnelly for Cody to transform things by 1-0 to 0-1 in the second-minute.

And Kilkenny really had Wexford fearing the worst when Walter Walsh fed Keoghan to blast open a 2-1 to 0-2 divide in the sixth minute.

Wexford weren’t doing themselves any favours with a clutch of wides.

But they were lifted considerably when Lee Chin buried a 24th minute penalty after Jack O’Connor was dragged down to peg it back to 2-8 to 1-6.

TJ Reid responded with a pointed free. But it did little to interrupt Wexford’s renewed challenge as Rory O’Connor sent Kevin Foley racing in from the right to lash home and shave the gap to 2-9 to 2-6 on 26 minutes.

The Wexford congregation amongst the 9,725 strong attendance were further roused as a series of points from Conor McDonald, Lee Chin (free) and Rory O’Connor tied things on 32 minutes (2-9 apiece).

And McDonald went close to bulging the net, before Wexford ‘keeper James Lawlor twice lifted serious threats in advance of clearing for Diarmuid O’Keeffe, who excelled in the quarter-back role, to fire Wexford ahead at the break (2-11 to 2-10).

Although Kilkenny were twice back level on the resumption, Liam Óg McGovern really left his mark on matters to help Wexford assert by 4-13 to 2-12 after 44 minutes.

McGovern dashed in to space on 40 minutes to take a superb pass from Conor McDonald and net a 3-12 to 2-12 advantage.

Chin then sent over a ‘65 as the Kilkenny goal survived a further threat, before it was breached again on 44 minutes when McGovern forced home after initially being thwarted by ‘keeper Eoin Murphy (4-13 to 2-12).

Any sense that Kilkenny were accepting their medicine was quickly debunked though as Derek Lyng’s charges transformed matters by 5-17 to 4-18 after 62 minutes.

Eoin Cody swept through for his second goal on 50 minutes as the gap dwindled to 4-13 to 3-13, before Tom Phelan had it back to 4-17 to 4-16 on 57 minutes after an ice-cold finish.

An exchange of scores followed before Wexford connections were on high alert when Cody completed his hat-trick to haul Kilkenny back in front (5-17 to 4-18).

Wexford wouldn’t buckle though as a quick brace from Lee Chin (one free) emboldened them, with substitute Cathal Dunbar sending over a line-ball, and Oisín Foley also splitting the uprights (4-22 to 5-17).

Kilkenny kept pestering, but Wexford courageously preserved their top-flight status as their campaign reaches its finish, while the Cats quest for All-Ireland glory continues – next stop: Leinster final.

Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 1-10 (0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Liam Óg McGovern 2-1, Kevin Foley 1-1, Rory O’Connor 0-4, Oisín Foley, Cathal Dunbar (one line-ball) 0-2 each, Conor McDonald, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Liam Ryan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Cody 3-1, Tom Phelan 1-4, TJ Reid 0-7 (4 frees, 1 ‘65), Martin Keoghan 1-0, Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh, Billy Ryan, Pádraig Walsh, Alan Murphy, Conor Delaney 0-1 each.

Wexford: James Lawlor; Simon Donohoe, Matthew O’Hanlon, Conor Devitt; Joe O’Connor, Liam Ryan, Ian Carty; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Kevin Foley; Jack O’Connor, Liam Óg McGovern, Oisín Foley; Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald, Lee Chin.

Subs: Conor Foley for Joe O’Connor (19), Mikie Dwyer McDonald, temp. (35-HT), Cathal Dunbar for Jack O’Connor (54), Conor Hearne for K. Foley (65), Dwyer for McGovern (68).

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Pádraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran; Walter Walsh, John Donnelly; Adrian Mullen, Martin Keoghan, Tom Phelan; Billy Drennan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Conor Delaney for Butler (12), Billy Ryan for Keoghan (14), Conor Fogarty for Mullen (25), Alan Murphy for Drennan (49), Cillian Buckley for W. Walsh (66).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).