Allianz Hurling League Semi-Final

KILKENNY 1-27 WEXFORD 2-15

By Ronan Fagan at Innovate Wexford Park

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It will be Kilkenny against Tipperary in next weekend's Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Final after the Cats clawed Wexford severely in today's semi-final at a biting cold Innovate Wexford Park with TJ Reid firing a supreme 0-15

Despite Wexford dashing clear by 1-2 to 0-1 at the start of the first-half, and then out-shooting Kilkenny by 1-3 to 0-1 immediately after half-time, they were a poor second to Brian Cody's men who bossed matters before a packed 16,452 attendance amid dry, but Arctic-like conditions.

Kilkenny have certainly banished the memories of their two-match losing start to the campaign as they now head into the League Final on the back of a five-game winning run.

And after Wexford had accounted for them in three of four competitive meetings within the past year, this semi-final performance seemed like a real statement of intent from Kilkenny ahead of the Leinster Championship, in which they renew rivalry with Wexford in the closing group-game at Nowlan Park on June 9th.

Wexford were seeking to avenge last March's narrow group-stage loss to Kilkenny, and the home-side certainly had every reason to be hopeful after Aidan Nolan netted a penalty in the seventh-minute to propel Wexford clear by 1-2 to 0-1. Rory O'Connor drew the foul for that dead-ball having earlier pointed twice from frees himself in a suitably cracking start by Wexford in this Easter Sunday fixture.

But they were simply out-fought in most sectors for the remainder of the half as the Cats sank their claws into the challenge.

TJ Reid continued his outstanding attacking form and produced five points as Kilkenny staged an amazing transformation after 27 minutes to lead by 0-12 to 1-2 as John Donnelly (2), Bill Sheehan, defenders Enda Morrissey and Cillian Buckley, goalkeeper Eoin Murphy from a monstrous free, and Richie Leahy added to Wexford concerns.

And there was even more cause for alarm in the Wexford ranks when Walter Walsh stole in from the right to find the net with a tidy finish in the 32nd-minute to stretch the gap to 1-12 to 1-2

Wexford eventually ended their long scoring drought when Rory O'Connor pegged back three late frees, but sweeper Shaun Murphy had to block a last-gasp goaling attempt from Ger Aylward to avert even more severe damage.

Thus Wexford had the gap down to 1-13 to 1-5 at half-time.

Noted for their stirring second-half displays this year, Wexford appeared set to maintain that trend as they warmed their freezing supporters with a thunderous start to the second-half to close to within two points after 39 minutes (1-14 to 2-8).

Conor McDonald and Rory O'Connor (2) lifted the mood with early points before McDonald collected a long delivery from Matthew O'Hanlon and shook off his marker to blast to the net.

But with Pádraig Walsh, captain Cillian Buckley and Paddy Deegan outstanding in a solid Kilkenny defence, the Noresiders quickly collected themselves once more to again dominate.

TJ Reid remained quite accurate in his scoring, and added four points as Kilkenny claimed seven of the next nine scores to reassert control by 1-21 to 2-10 after 59 minutes.

The Ballyhale man had fired 0-12 in each of the last two games, and he increased that by three points on this occasion as Kilkenny simply didn't ease off, extending their lead to 1-23 to 2-12 after 63 minutes.

Rory O'Connor was valiant for struggling Wexford as he pegged back a bunch of late points. But it wasn't enough to spare Wexford a bruising defeat to an extremely motivated Kilkenny.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-15 (11fs), Walter Walsh 1-1, Richie Leahy 0-2, John Donnelly 0-2, Ger Aylward 0-2, Eoin Murphy 0-1 (1f), Cillian Buckley 0-1, Enda Morrissey 0-1, Martin Keoghan 0-1, Bill Sheehan 0-1.

**Scorers for Wexford: **Rory O'Connor 0-12 (8fs), Conor McDonald 1-1, Aidan Nolan 1-0 (penalty), Shaun Murphy 0-1, Harry Kehoe 0-1.

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Joey Holden, Pádraig Walsh, Paddy Deegan; Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Enda Morrissey; Richie Leahy, James Maher; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, John Donnelly; Ger Aylward, Walter Walsh, Bill Sheehan.

Subs: Conor Fogarty for Maher (48), Liam Blanchfield for Donnelly (60), Lester Ryan for Leahy (67), Luke Scanlon for Sheehan (68), Pat Lyng for Keoghan (71).

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Willie Devereux, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohoe; Pádraig Foley, Matthew O’Hanlon, Diarmuid O’Keeffe; Kevin Foley, Shaun Murphy; Jack O’Connor, Rory O'Connor, Lee Chin; Aidan Nolan, Conor McDonald, Paul Morris.

Subs: Damien Reck for Devereux (15), Harry Kehoe for Morris (50), David Dunne for Nolan (53), Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna) for J O'Connor (69).

REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork).