Wexford1-16

Kilkenny 1-14

Wexford maintained their impressive recent record against Kilkenny when late points from substitute Diarmuid O'Keeffe and free-taker Paul Morris gave them victory at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

With a strong wind blowing straight down the field, this was always going to be a game of two halves. Favoured by the elements in the first half, the hosts took a seven-point lead into the break, but Kilkenny stormed back to edge ahead before Wexford finished the stronger to make it two wins from three.

With 7,200 hardly souls in attendance, James Maher gave Brian Cody's side an early lead, but they would only score once more in the opening 25 minutes as the Leinster champions stamped their authority on proceedings. Conor McDonald and Jack O'Connor had points before McDonald flicked home O'Connor's sideline for a sixth-minute goal.

Further scores from Damien Reck, Pádraig Foley (free), Aidan Nolan (two) and Paul Morris (two frees) pushed out Wexford's lead to 1-8 to 0-2 before the Cats finished the half with points from Walter Walsh (two), John Donnelly, Richie Hogan and Alan Murphy (free) to trail by 0-6 to 1-10 at the short whistle.

Wexford's Kevin Foley goes flying. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

The momentum remained with the visitors after the restart when Billy Ryan netted in the 38th minute after being set up by Walsh. It was all Kilkenny now as points from Martin Keoghan, goalkeeper Alan Murphy (free) and Richie Hogan (two) levelled the scoring before Donnelly edged them into a 1-12 to 1-11 lead after 51 minutes.

Wexford responded with a brace of Morris frees and a Jack O'Connor effort from play to lead by 1-14 to 1-12 after 57 minutes.

Paddy Deegan and Alan Murphy restored parity for Kilkenny with three minutes of normal time remaining, only for Davy Fitzgerald's men to win it with late points from O'Keeffe and Morris (free).  

Wexford - M Fanning; Joe O'Connor, L Ryan, S Donohoe; S Murphy, P Foley (0-1f), D Reck (0-1); L Og McGovern, A Rochford; Jack O'Connor (0-3), A Nolan (0-2), K Foley; C Dunbar, C McDonald (1-1), P Morris (0-7, 6f). Subs: R O'Connor for C Dunbar, L Chin for L Og McGovern, D O'Keeffe (0-1) for A Nolan, M O'Hanlon for D Reck, M Dwyer for Jack O'Connor.

Kilkenny - D Brennan (0-1f); C Browne, H Lawlor, C Wallace; C Delaney, P Deegan (0-1), C Buckley; J Maher (0-1), M Carey; J Donnelly (0-2), A Murphy (0-4f), M Keoghan (0-1); B Ryan (1-0), R Hogan (0-3), W Walsh (0-1). Subs: D Mullen for M Carey, B Sheehan for R Hogan, M Cody for J Maher.

Referee - F Horgan.

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