Wexford 1-25 Kilkenny 2-18
Whatever about the pre-match fireworks, Wexford produced an explosive finish as Richie Lawlor blasted an injury-time goal to snatch a dramatic victory at the newly floodlit Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday.
The result keeps Darragh Egan's charges in the hunt with Kilkenny for qualification for the Walsh Cup decider, with the matter coming down to score-difference if Laois account for Offaly on Sunday.
Kilkenny only required a draw to make the final for the first time since 2018, and substitute Billy Sheehan latched onto a defensive error in the 60th minute to put the black and amber on course to at least force that share of the spoils.
But Wexford lit up the venue to raucous cheers from their backers amongst the near 13,000 strong attendance as 'keeper James Lawlor cut out a threat from Killian Doyle before Lawlor’s goal helped the home side claw out a crucial result.
Wexford’s main grounds was full of celebration even before the action got underway, as the official switching on of the state-of-the-art floodlights brought tremendous festivity to the occasion.
And the protagonists added extra voltage as the lead changed hands four times across a keenly contested opening period, with Conor McDonald and Diarmuid O’Keeffe launching the opening scores.
Two responses from lively centre-forward Cian Kenny helped Kilkenny transform matters by 0-03 to 0-02 after eight minutes.
Wexford appeared to be hitting a rich vein of form when a quick-fire double from Oisín Pepper and one from Lee Chin turned the tables by 0-06 to 0-04 15 minutes in.
And the home side remained in fine fettle as a Conor Hearne double and a Mikie Dwyer addition kept Wexford noses in front by 0-08 to 0-07 just before Dwyer forced the only save of the half.
Wexford were disappointed by poor finishing, and Kilkenny hit the front again after 30 minutes as Tom Phelan and free-taker Niall Brassil edged a 0-09 to 0-08 advantage.
However, a burst of Wexford scores from Lee Chin (two), Conor McDonald and Charlie McGuckin guided the locals to a 0-12 to 0-11 interval advantage as Paddy Deegan and Brassil (free) kept the Cats in the hunt.
The hosts sparkled on the restart with Ian Carty, Diarmuid O'Keeffe, Dwyer and Richie Lawlor whipping up a four-point gap inside four minutes.
But Kilkenny were back on terms by the 42nd minute as Gearóid Dunne’s sweet set up saw Tom Phelan stitch the net before Paddy Deegan tied matters, 1-13 to 0-16.
The next six points were shared before Wexford overcame squandering a gilt-edged goal chance as McDonald and subs Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Ross Banville (free) guided them ahead by 0-21 to 1-16 after 59 minutes.
But a lapse by Wexford defender Liam Ryan was seized upon by Billy Sheehan as he intercepted the ill-advised back-pass to net before Ian Byrne made it a two-point lead.
Wexford twice got back level before Killian Doyle was denied a goal prior to a free from deep by Liam Ryan finding Charlie McGuckin inside, and he released to Richie Lawlor for the vital blow, before Conor Hearne closed with a point to add the crowning glory to a momentous night for the hosts.
Wexford: James Lawlor; Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck (0-01), Ian Carty (0-01); Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-02), Richie Lawlor (1-01); Mikie Dwyer (0-01), Conor Hearne (0-03), Charlie McGuckin (0-01); Oisín Pepper (0-02), Conor McDonald (0-05), Lee Chin (0-03, 0-01 free, 0-01 '65).
Subs: Ross Banville (0-3fs) for Chin (ht), Conor Foley for Donohoe (44), Kevin Foley for Dwyer (49), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-01) for Pepper (49), Conall Clancy (0-01) for O’Keeffe (54), David Clarke for Carty (69), Kyle Scallan for D. Reck (72).
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Evan Cody, Niall Rowe; David Blanchfield, Pádraic Moylan, Pádraig Walsh; Paddy Deegan (0-02), Shane Murphy (0-01); Paul Cody (0-02), Cian Kenny (0-02), Tom Phelan (1-03); Gearóid Dunne, John Donnelly (0-01), Niall Brassil (0-05, 0-05fs).
Subs: Cillian Buckley for Blanchfield (41), Cillian Doyle for Murphy (43), Shane Walsh (0-01, 0-01f) for Dunne (49), Niall Brennan for Kenny (52), Des Dunne for Moylan (54), Ian Byrne (0-1) for Phelan (58), Billy Sheehan (1-0) for Brassil (59), Colum Prendiville for P. Cody (66), Niall Mullins for Donnelly (68).
Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).
In the earlier Walsh Cup game, Galway eased to a 13-point win over Antrim in Darver in Louth. Jarlath Mannion's 15th-minute goal pushed the Tribesmen seven points clear.
This was extended to 11 just before half-time, when Antrim put on a spurt, Rian McMullan finding the net in first half stoppage time to reduce the gap to six at the break.
That was as close as it got, Galway pulling away in the second half, Joseph Cooney and Ronan Glennon chipping in with points. It took the northerners until 48 minutes to grab their first score of the second half, Michael Bradley capitalising on a goalkeeping error to make it 1-21 to 2-09, though Galway sauntered clear again, Gavin Lee and Jason Flynn amongst the scorers as they ran out 1-31 to 2-15 winners.
"The Walsh Cup is about trying players and trying to find players and I think the lads are all very eager to be on the panel," Henry Shefflin told Clubber.ie after the game.
"We probably saw that in the performance today so very happy."
