Wexford showed real fight when winning the Walsh Cup last weekend and more of the same earned them a thrilling draw with Kilkenny in this pulsating Allianz Hurling League clash at a raucous UPMC Nowlan Park.
With the clock beyond the 71 minute mark star man Lee Chin got in a stinging shot at the Kilkenny goal from about 12 metres on the right. Keeper Eoin Murphy saved but when the ball ran free sub Cian Byrne raced in to sweep it into the net to level it up.
As the hectic action continued on Kilkenny had one chance to win it, but a Billy Drennan free from 55 metres fell short and shortly afterwards the final whistle was blown. All in the 8,224 crowd must have gone home happy, however.
The second half action was top notch as fortunes swung one way and then the other. Wind backed Kilkenny went in 0-09 to 0-05 in front at the break. They opened the second half with a point from Cian Kenny, but Wexford chased with ferocious spirit afterwards.
With Chin, full-back Conor Foley and Cian Molloy leading the scoring they charged back to hit the front in the 49th minute when Seamus Casey batted the ball into the net (1-11 to 0-12).
The arrival of sub Billy Drennan off the bench for Kilkenny in the 48th minute turned out to be a golden move. He went on to shoot 2-03, both goals from penalties. The second goal in the 69th minute led to Wexford's Damien Reck being sent off for a second booking, and the score put the Cats 2-16 to 1-16 ahead.
Wexford, a man short or not, powered on and Byrne saved them at the finish.
Eoin Cody was the main man for Kilkenny during an ordinary opening half. He helped himself to six of their nine scores, and with an assist for Adrian Mullen’s last point of the half in the 33rd minute he was by far the most productive player on view.
The weather was cold and dry and the underfoot conditions were good for this time of the year. Yet the hurling was challenging, although both sides were fully committed and the work-rate all round was impressive.
The Cats had first use of the downfield wind that was worth several yards carry to the ball. Cody got them going with two early points. By the 10th minute Wexford had posted replies through the strong running Chin (free) and Kevin Foley, who was picked out with a superb 50 metre pass from centre-back Reck.
After the visitors missed a decent chance for a free shortly after, Martin Keoghan won back the lead for Kilkenny in the 15th minute. With Cody running up the scores from frees and one 65 afterwards, and Richie Reid cleaning up generally across the '40’ and driving long balls into the attack, Kilkenny built up a lead of 0-9 to 0-5 by the break.
If the first half fare was ordinary enough, the second period exploded into life quickly and the action burned brightly right to the finish.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Moylan, D Corcoran, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, J Molloy; C Kenny (0-01), K Blanchfield (0-01); A Mullen (0-02), E Cody (0-07, 5f, 65), C Heary; B Ryan (0-01), H Shine, M Keoghan (0-01)
Subs: C Fogarty for K Blanchfield (47); B Drennan (2-03, 2-00p, 0-03f) for H Shine (48); C Buckley for C Kenny (65); M Carey for R Reid (71).
Wexford: M Fanning; N Murphy, C Foley (0-02), E Ryan; C McGuckin, D Reck, C Hearne; C Byrne Dunbar (0-01), C Molloy (0-02); J O’Connor, L Chin (0-04, 4f); K Foley (0-01); J Byrne (0-01), R Lawlor, S Casey (1-02).
Subs: S Reck for C Hearne 40th min; T Kinsella (0-02) for J O’Connor 45th min; C Byrne (1-01) for C Byrne Dunbar 55th min; C Dunbar for J Byrne 63rd min; S Donohoe for K Foley 69th min.
Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin).
