Allianz HL D1B: Impressive Wexford triumph
Wexford senior hurling team manager Keith Rossiter. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Wexford 3-29 Kildare 1-14
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
With promotion beyond both, a Jack Redmond hat-trick earned Wexford the bragging rights in Saturday’s closing Division 1B Allianz Hurling League clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
The sides’ will actually cross paths in their next competitive outing - in the opening round of the Leinster championship, in Newbridge, on the third weekend of April.
Wexford meant business, and Redmond’s opening net-rattler set up a 1-10 to 0-8 interval advantage, before a second-half brace from the Rathnure sharpshooter ensured the purple and gold landed a psychological blow for the championship rematch.
Kildare quickly found their rhythm amid glorious sunshine as Gerry Keegan fired the ice-breaker after four minutes, before two free conversions by David Qualter had the Lilywhites 0-3 to 0-1 clear inside seven minutes.
Wexford had threatened the midlanders’ net in the third-minute when Seán Rowley fired across the face of goal and wide.
The emerging Oylegate-Glenbrien talent made amends when giving Wexford their first taste of the lead after 15 minutes (0-4 to 0-3) after colleagues Simon Roche (two) and Jack Redmond bridged the gap.
While Jack Sheridan quickly brought Kildare back in terms, Wexford were finding their mojo after an underwhelming opening.
Keith Rossiter’s charges soared 1-9 to 0-4 clear when mining 1-5 without reply between the seventeenth and 28th minutes.
Jack Redmond laced the net in the 20th minute after a superb set up by captain Lee Chin, who weighed in with two pointed frees as Darren Codd (two) and defender Damien Reck also contributed to the gulf on the scoreboard.
In fact, despite operating from wing-back, Reck was unfortunate not to net in the 22nd minute after an assist from Jack Redmond brought an excellent save from Kildare netminder Mark Doyle.
The Lilywhites made some in-roads in the closing stages of the half, the lively Keegan (two), Qualter (free) and defender Cathal McCabe narrowing the margin to 1-10 to 0-8 at the break.
But Wexford certainly had cause to be dissatisfied with some poor finishing having already accumulated twelve wides – six more than their rivals.
Wexford resumed with extra venom, and a burst of points from Rowley, defender Diarmuid O’Leary and Roche were added to by Jack Redmond’s second net-buster on 41 minutes from a cross-field delivery by Conor Hearne (2-13 to 0-8).
Kildare spiritedly fought back to within 2-14 to 0-11 through Jack Sheridan, Keegan and substitute Cian Boran, while Qualter lashed home on 51 minutes from a Jack Sheridan assist to cut the gap to 2-19 to 1-12.
However, Wexford quickly stamped their authority back on matters as Jack Redmond instantly snapped back with his hat-trick goal, feeding off Cian Byrne (3-19 to 1-12).
Substitute Rory Higgins was unfortunate to fire a goaling chance inches wide, while Cian Byrne was similarly denied by a masterful block from Cathal McCabe as Wexford largely bossed matters in a sure-footed conclusion to their league campaign.
Scorers for Wexford: Jack Redmond 3-3, Lee Chin 0-7 (2fs), Simon Roche 0-5, Seán Rowley 0-3, Darren Codd, Damien Reck, Diarmuid O’Leary, Cian Byrne (1 ’65, 1 free) 0-2 each, Richie Lawlor, Cillian Byrne, Rory Higgins 0-1 each
Scorers for Kildare: Gerry Keegan 0-5, David Qualter 1-3 (3fs) , Jack Sheridan 0-3 (1f), Cian Boran 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-1
Wexford: Mark Fanning; David Clarke, Conor Foley, Darragh Carley; Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Hearne, Damien Reck; Lee Chin, Richie Lawlor; Darren Codd, Simon Roche, Ciarán O’Connor; Seán Rowley, Cian Byrne, Jack Redmond.
Subs: Cillian Byrne for Codd (44), Stephen Martin for Reck (56), Rory Higgins for Redmond (56), Ross Banville for O’Connor (56), Eoin O’Leary for Clarke (63).
Kildare: Mark Doyle; Evan O’Brien, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara; Simon Leacy, Paul Dolan, Harry Carroll; Daire Guerin, Alan Goss; David Qualter, Jack Sheridan, Gerry Keegan; James Dolan, Cathal McCabe, Darragh Melville.
Subs: Cian Boran for J. Dolan (44), Liam O’Reilly for P. Dolan (56), Conn Kehoe for Melville (56), Seán Whelan for Qualter (65), Cian Shanahan for McCabe (68).
Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
