Leinster SHC: Wexford edge out spirited Kildare
Kevin Foley, Wexford, and Simon Leacy, Kildare, in Leinster SHC action. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Wexford 1-22 Kildare 1-14
By Ger McNally at Cedral St Conleth's Park
An injury time goal by Lee Chin sealed a first round Leinster Senior Hurling Championship win for Wexford in Cedral St Conleths Park – but they were made work for it by a gallant Kildare outfit.
Last year’s McDonagh Cup winners were level at half time, but Wexford eventually wore them down in the second half.
Chin was at the heart of all the good that Wexford did and Kildare found it difficult to keep a handle on the outstanding Faythe Harriers man.
Wexford made the better start and Chin scored the first three frees to make it 0-3 to 0-1 before Mark Fanning landed a monster effort from his own half.
A couple of quickfire David Qualter frees got Kildare back into the game.
Wexford had moved three ahead heading into the last 15 minutes of the half, but Kildare elevated their performance.
Paul Dolan and Cian Boran landed fine points, but Kildare’s best moment came on the half hour mark when a long ball found Muiris Curtin and he offloaded to Jack Sheridan to fire home.
That left the score at 1-6 to 0-7 and Kildare had chances to be ahead at half-time, but Wexford ensured parity at the break with points from Conor Hearne and captain Jack O’Connor, the returning Wexford captain who got a good 50 minutes under his belt.
After Sheridan hit the first point of the second half, Wexford scored six of the next seven points and finally they created some daylight between the teams.
Kildare stuck at their task and a brilliant point from the centre of the field from the superb Cathal McCabe left three between the teams heading into the last 10 minutes, but Wexford pulled away and Chin’s well taken goal late on put the icing on the cake.
Scorers for Wexford: L Chin 1-12 (9fs, 1’65), R Banville 0-2, M Fanning 0-1 (f), D O’Leary 0-1 (f), E Wickham 0-1, C Hearne 0-1, J O’Connor 0-1, D Reck 0-1, S Roche 0-1, J Byrne 0-1.
Scorers for Kildare: J Sheridan 1-5 (2fs), D Qualter 0-2fs, P Dolan 0-2, T Power 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, S Leacy 0-1, C McCabe 0-1, G Keegan 0-1.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Darragh Carley, Conor Foley, Shane Reck, Damien Reck, Richie Lawlor, Diarmuid O’Leary; Conor Hearne, Eamon Wickham; Ross Banville, Lee Chin, Jack O’Connor, Kevin Foley, Jack Redmond, Simon Roche.
Subs: Rory Higgins for Redmond, 45; Cillian Byrne for O’Connor, 50; James Byrne, 62; David Clarke for Carley, 66.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara, Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, Conan Boran; David Qualter, Cathal McCabe, Gerry Keegan, Muiris Curtin, Tom Power, Jack Sheridan.
Subs: Darragh Melville for Qualter, 56; Conn Kehoe for O’Meara, 58; Richy Hogan for Power, 64; Tim Ryan for Curtin, 68.
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
