Hurling matters - Review

Ryan then got on the scoresheet before Tom Phelan took over. e Conahy Shamrocks player red over a ne point before he got in on the goal act. Phelan like his captain minutes earlier had tunnel vision and accelerated towards home netminder James Lawlor. Tom showed great skill and balance before ri ing his shot beyond Lawlor to leave just the bare minimum between the sides with about 22 minutes played in the second half.

Conor Delaney and the impressive

Oisin Foley swapped points before goal number nine arrived. Eoin Cody burst onto the loose ball and cut in from the left as once again huge gaps appeared in the home defence. Goalkeeper James Lawlor came out to try and narrow the angle, but the Cats skipper shortened his grip on the hurl and nished to the net. e Cats had the regained the lead, but in this game nothing was certain. Lee Chin red over a brace of points to deadlock matters again before two quick scores from sub Cathal Dunbar and Oisin Foley put e Yellowbellies two up. TJ sent over a placed ball but the nal score of the game came from lively sub Dunbar who secured the victory and ensured a seat at the top table for the Slaneysiders on a nal scoreline of Wexford 4-23, Kilkenny 5-18.

Scorers for Wexford: L Chin (0-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65’); L Og McGovern (2-1); K Foley (1-1); R O’Connor (0-4); Jack O’Connor (1-0 penalty); C Dunbar (0-2, 0-1 sideline); O

McDonald (all 0-1).

Scorers for Kilkenny: E Cody (31): TJ Reid (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65’); T Phelan (1-4); M Keoghan (1-0); P Walsh, A Mullen, W Walsh, A Murphy, C Delaney and B Ryan (all 0-1).

WEXFORD: J Lawlor; Joe O’Connor, L Ryan, C Devitt; S Donohoe, M O’Hanlon, I Carty; D O’Kee e, K Foley; Jack O’Connor, L Og McGovern, O Foley; R O’Connor, C McDonald, L Chin.

Subs: C Foley for Joe O’Connor (19); C Dunbar for Jack O’Connor (55); C Hearne for Foley (65); M Dwyer for McGovern (69).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanch eld, P Walsh, D Corcoran; A Mullen, W Walsh; T Phelan, J Donnelly, B Drennan; M Keoghan, TJ Reid, E Cody.

Subs: C Delaney for Butler (13); B Ryan for Keoghan (14); C Fogarty for Mullen (25); A Murphy for Drennan (49); C Buckley for Walsh (66) Referee: C Lyons (Cork).

>> SHERRY SAYS..

Hard to know where to start. Kilkenny are through to the Leinster final where they will once again tackle to challenge of Henry’s Galway. Chadwick Wexford Park provided the backdrop to an insane game of hurling.

NINE goals, 41 points, A hat-trick for captain Eoin Cody, Lee Chin superb, an eye-catching performance from Top Phelan and Derek Lyng forced into 3 first-half changes as injuries claimed Mikey Butler, Mossy Keoghan and the influential Adrian Mullen. Time is a great healer, but in such a condensed season, the Emeralds man will be a little worried at the number of his players on the treatment table at present.

Worth mentioning (this is not sour grapes!!) What appeared to be a lovely point from Padraig Walsh that wasn’t given and Alan Murphy’s goal that was chalked-off for an innocuous infringement. Anyway, some days you get the rub of the green, some you don’t.

On a crazy last day in Leinster, Westmeath exited the senior ranks having lost heavily to Antrim. Galway made the provincial final and produced a high-octane 2nd half to claim a share of the spoils in the Captial.

This was a chance to pull the rug from under Wexford’s feet, but to Darragh Eagan’s men’s credit, they did what they needed to do. That’s their business. Now let’s plan for another meeting with Henry.

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL