By Michael Dwyer at Innovate Wexford Park
Wexford 4-17 Kilkenny 1-09
An artistic display from full-forward Conor McDonald, who claimed 1-10 (0-7fs) in all, guided Wexford to their third Leinster Bord Gáis Energy Under-21 hurling title in a row as they routed old foes Kilkenny.
Although Kilkenny opened with a brilliant streak of 1-01, the Slaneysiders made an astonishing recovery to lead by ten around 20 minutes later.
Goals from McDonald, James Cash and Andrew Kenny outweighed Liam Hickey's major as the hosts led by 3-08 to 1-04 at the interval, with them still to gain the advantage of the elements.
Within three minutes of the restart, Cathal Dunbar, making his first start for the county team, killed the game as a contest when he finished the ball to the town-end net after collecting a pass from Cash.
Although Evan Cody and Diarmuid Cody, the latter a son of Kilkenny senior manager Brian Cody, fought hard, Wexford manager JJ Doyle did not lose sight of the task at hand.
Conor McDonald kept the pressure on as he sent over some sweet points.
After a performance rich in skill, determination and passion, Wexford were full value for their victory. Naomh Éanna clubman Eoin Conroy lifted the provincial trophy to the delight of the throngs of home supporters.
The Cats got the perfect start when Paddy Deegan secured the ball at the throw-in and slipped through the Wexford defence to find Liam Hickey who shook the net with a low drive with just 13 seconds on the clock.
In the face of adversity, Wexford embarked upon a purple-patch between the fifth and 24th minutes, racking up 3-05 without reply and in doing so giving themselves a hold on a match they would never relinquish.
With Kilkenny hunting for possession in pairs, Wexford rose to the challenge and subsequently produced a smart and efficient style of play.
Although Kevin Foley, McDonald and Jack O'Connor points established parity on 14 minutes (1-2 to 0-5), Kilkenny had not completely succumbed.
It was more of a case of Wexford's backs as a whole rallying to shut down any potential advance from their opponents.
Chris Bolger came closest to adding to Kilkenny's total, but Oliver O'Leary denied his bullet.
At the other end of the park, Wexford scored three goals in the space of just seven minutes, turning the game on its head in the process.
The first came from a perfect piece of movement as Pádraig Foley cast a long ball in towards McDonald, which the man-of-the-match wrestled into his grasp and fired past Darren Brennan.
McDonald and Andrew Kenny were instrumental in their next green-flag as Cash got on the end of their play.
Impressive defender Jack O'Connor set up their final score with a long ball-in, which Kenny flicked to the Kilkenny net.
At this, tenacious Kilkenny captain Evan Cody produced an over-due response in the form of a point, but a 3-8 to 1-4 gulf remained between the sides at the interval.
Dunbar crushed any hopes of a Kilkenny revival within three minutes of the restart as he finished off the work of Cash, who gifted the Ballygarrett man with possession with an excellent pass across the face of the goal.
Although Conor Martin and Kervin Kenny came close with goals, they could never dismantle Wexford's lead, which stood as 4-14 to 1-7 with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Wexford answered a Liam Blanchfield-Ciáran Ryan brace to close the game, as Seán Murphy, McDonald and Foley pointed, sending the home supporters into ecstasy.
Wexford now face the winner of Ulster in the All-Ireland semi-final.
