‘Passionate’ Wexford end their Nowlan Park hoodoo to keep Championship hopes alive

Wexford 1-22 Kilkenny 1-18

Wexford's Liam Ryan and Kilkenny's Conor Delaney in action during Saturday's Leinster SHC Round 5 clash at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Dermot Crowe

May 23 2022 02:30 AM

You doubt Wexford at your peril, the latest incumbents of a proud hurling tradition invoking the spirit of Vinegar Hill to earn a first ever championship win over Kilkenny in Nowlan Park on Saturday evening. The surprise result prolongs their interest in the MacCarthy Cup, Kilkenny advancing to the Leinster final despite a second defeat in the round-robin phase.

A frantic passage of play near the end summed up Wexford defiance when a shot for goal from Billy Ryan was blocked by Liam Ryan’s back and Damien Reck made a dramatic save to deny a pulled attempt by TJ Reid that looked destined for the net. A week after drawing with Westmeath and looking on the brink of elimination, Wexford were transformed.

“These are all all passionate Wexford men,” stated their manager, Darragh Egan afterwards. “They were a bit hurt coming out of Mullingar last Saturday evening.”

The reward for a mammoth performance is a place in the preliminary quarter-finals in just under three weeks, while the weekend before Kilkenny will be in Croke Park for a rematch with Galway. Kilkenny finished ahead of Wexford and Dublin on score difference, all three counties tied on six points.

“The reality is we’re there, we came through a round-robin,” said Brian Cody. “I would much prefer to be going in on our own terms tonight rather than depending on another result but yeah, two weeks’ time, Galway in Croke Park in a Leinster final, massive game.”

It is rare enough to see Kilkenny out-hungered but Wexford were ravenous. After Reid had got Kilkenny back on level terms in the 61st minute, Wexford outscored them 0-6 to 0-2 in the remaining time. Ryan sent over a monster score from out the field, sub Connal Flood matched it and then Lee Chin made a leap and catch and split the posts for an inspiring score, despite the close attentions of Tommy Walsh.

Kilkenny went in search of a goal to save the game but met with heroic defending, and the closing minutes had three more stirring Wexford points, a beautiful piece of skill from Mikie Dwyer creating the first, followed by a second for Simon Donohoe and one for another sub Cathal Dunbar.

Wexford were able to reduce the Kilkenny attacking threat, using Diarmuid O’Keeffe in a sweeping role, O’Keeffe scoring two long-range points in the first half, having been taken off in the loss to Westmeath a week before.

Chin was a constant influence, finishing with 0-9, two of those from play, and Rory O’Connor and Conor McDonald made life hard for Kilkenny despite the best efforts of Mikey Butler and Conor Delaney, again deputising for the injured Huw Lawlor. O’Connor had a few wides but his two points were massive psychological lifts for the men in purple and gold.

“We played well, every man stood up and was counted,” said their proud manager, Egan, who is in his first year at the helm. “But these lads always do. They’ve had their knockers, over the few days even, but they’re real, real passionate Wexford men and every time they take the field they go at it as hard as they possibly can.”

They now turn their attention to the preliminary quarter-final date with Antrim or Kerry who meet in the McDonagh Cup final.

“We still have to be more efficient in front of goals,” said Egan. “Like, at half-time we had nine wides on the board. That just isn’t good enough at this level and it has hurt us over the last few weeks.”

They can add to that two more misses that came off the upright and a lost goal opportunity in first-half injury-time when Eoin Murphy made a spectacular save from McDonald, who turned and shot with great force from just a few metres out. Murphy never blinked and stayed strong on his feet to deny a second Wexford goal. He was beaten by a fine effort by Oisín Foley in the 34th minute, who latched on to a breaking ball and went for the jugular.

Wexford led 1-11 to 1-8 at the break, after Kilkenny had been five points in front in the opening 10 minutes, with their goal coming from Mossy Keoghan, picking up where he left off against Dublin.

Cian Kenny and Reid were instrumental in setting it up. While Kenny worked extremely hard he was unable to repeat his scoring performance of a week earlier and both he and Eoin Cody failed to raise a flag. Tom Phelan started in place of Pádraig Walsh but couldn’t get into the game and Alan Murphy and Adrian Mullen were less effective in the middle of the field where they had shone against Dublin. Mullen was the more influential of the two.

Mikey Carey hit two fine points, the second an inspirational score after he caught Mark Fanning’s puckout, drove forward and sent the ball back over the bar from the middle of the field. That helped get Kilkenny back on level terms by the 53rd minute, 1-14 a piece, but each time Wexford found a response and were never led in the match after a brilliant McDonald point got them level in the 23rd minute.

Kilkenny have a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday week against Galway in Croke Park where they will be aiming to win a third Leinster title in a row.

Scorers – Wexford: L Chin 0-9 (7f); O Foley 1-0; D O’Keeffe, R O’Connor, S Donohoe 0-2 each; C McDonald, L Óg McGovern, J O’Connor, L Ryan, M Dwyer, C Flood, C Dunbar 0-1 each. Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-10 (8f, 1 ‘65); M Keoghan 1-1; M Carey, A Mullen 0-2 each; W Walsh, B Ryan (sideline), P Walsh 0-1 each.

Wexford – M Fanning 7; D Reck 9, L Ryan 8, C Devitt 7; S Donohoe 8, M O’Hanlon 7, P Foley 7; D O’Keeffe 8, K Foley 7; L Óg McGovern 7, J O’Connor 7, O Foley 7; L Chin 8, C McDonald 8, R O’Connor 8. Subs: C Flood 7 for Devitt (inj 41), M Dwyer 7 for J O’Connor (55), C Dunbar 7 for K Foley (57), C McGuckin 7 for O Foley (62), P Morris for McDonald (72).

Kilkenny – E Murphy 8; M Butler 7, C Delaney 7, T Walsh 7; M Carey 8, P Deegan 7, R Reid 7; A Murphy 6, A Mullen 7; W Walsh 7, TJ Reid 7, T Phelan 6; M Keoghan 7, C Kenny 7, E Cody 7. Subs: B Ryan 7 for Phelan (45), J Maher 7 for A Murphy (54), P Walsh for Kenny (68), J Donnelly for Keoghan (69).

Ref – F Horgan (Tipperary).

‘Passionate’ Wexford end their Nowlan Park hoodoo to keep Championship hopes alive

GAA Newsletter

Most Watched

Footage shows stolen high-powered Audi believed to be linked to burglary crime spree

Storm chaser captures incredible rainbow and lightning flash

Timeline: The Finglas feud that led to murder and mayhem

Irish TikToker compares watching Love Island in your 20s and 30s in hilarious sketch

Australian laughing bird has the last laugh when man tries to feed it in funny video

Latest Hurling

Most Read

Latest