Leinster Under 20 Hurling Final

Kilkenny 1-13 Wexford 0-15

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park

There was a nail-biting finish to this Leinster under 20 hurling final at Netwatch Cullen Park when Kilkenny just about held out for victory as Wexford’s late rally just came up short.

Kilkenny dominated the early stages looking sharper and hungrier as they dealt with everything their ancient opponents could throw at them. Billy Drennan converted a 1st minute free and this was followed by further points from play through Denis Walsh and Timmy Clifford.

Another free pushed the lead out to four but on 11 minutes Wexford almost stole in for a goal when Joe Barrett found the rampaging Jack Redmond. At the cost of a free, Kilkenny minimised the danger and Cian Byrne obliged when raising a white flag.

Three wides in succession didn’t help Wexford but at least they didn’t concede a goal as Kilkenny continued to edge the exchanges.

Andy Hickey, Drennan and Walsh added points and in reply Cian Molloy drove forward from his half-back position to land a great point. When Cian Byrne added a free Wexford were very much back in the contest. They closed the gap to 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time with another free from Byrne.

Wexford were first off the mark in the second half with a rousing point from Jack Redmond but Kilkenny hit back to hit 1-2 without reply. The goal came when Denis Walsh found Jack Doyle and he batted past the advancing keeper on 36 minutes.

Wexford took the concession right on the chin and hit back with three points from Byrne. It was head to head from there to the final whistle which included four minutes plus injury time. Cian Byrne was unerring from placed ball for Wexford and he almost snatched a goal late on but his shot flew just over the crossbar.

With 33 minutes on the second half clock, Wexford opted to take a point from a 20m free to leave just one in it. They launched one last attack but a frantic Kilkenny defence forced a wide from their rivalss and the Cats held on by a single point in a breath-taking finish.

Kilkenny scorers: B Drennan 0-7(fs), D Walsh 0-3, J. Doyle 1-0, T Clifford 0-1, A Hickey 0-1, P Langton 0-1

Wexford Scorers: C Byrne 0-10 (9fs), J Redmond 0-2, T Kinsella 0-1, C Molloy 0-1, R Lawlor.

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Niall Rowe, Sean Purcell, Padraig Lennon; Joe Fitzpatrick, Padraic Moylan, Paddy Langton; Killian Doyle, Denis Walsh; Andy Hickey, Timmy Clifford, Peter McDonald; Billy Drennan, Gearoid Dunne, Ted Dunne.

Subs: Jack Doyle for McDonald h/t, Ian Byrne for Dunne h/t, James Walsh for G Dunne (41), Eoin O’Brien for Hickey 56,

Wexford: Cian Byrne; Eoin Ryan, Conor Foley, AJ Redmond; Joe Barrett, Cian Molloy, Kyle Scallan; Darragh Carley, Luke Kavanagh; Richie Lawlor, Corey Byrne Dunbar, Shamey O Hagan; Cian Browne, Jack Redmond, Cian Byrne. Subs: David Codd for Byrne Dunbar 42, Tomas Kinsella for O Hagan 44, JJ Twamley for Carley 51, Josh Shiel for Browne 58, Liam Cassin for Kavanagh 58.

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)