Kilkenny 0-22

Wexford 1-18

It was certainly a game of two halves at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening as Kilkenny masterminded a comeback to deny Wexford a place in the Leinster final.

Cody made several changes to his named line-up as he introduced Richie Hogan, Colin Fennelly and Bill Sheehan to the forward line. Kilkenny were far from sharp as the posted 10 wides in the opening half.

Paul Morris goals for Wexford! pic.twitter.com/GieGHnu9bN

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 9, 2018

Wexford were much sharper in the first half and were leading 0-10 to 0-05 before Paul Morris rattled the back of the Kilkenny net, Lee Chin worked hard for the goal and the assist went to David Dunne.

Wexford played with the breeze to lead at halftime, 1-11 to 0-07; Rory O’Connor, Paul Morris, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Lee Chin all impressed.

Wexford took the game to the home side as Paudie Foley and Lee Chin took the opening points of the second half. Shortly after, Kilkenny took control, was it a case of Wexford tiring or Kilkenny finding their form, or maybe a bit of both.

The Slaneysiders fought bravely, but Richie Leahy leveled the sides in the 58^th minute and two minutes later, Enda Morrisey, put Kilkenny in front, surely a demoralising blow for the visitors.

Wexford only need a draw from the game to book their Leinster final ticket, but alas, it was not meant to be, a win against either Carlow or Westmeath, due to be played on the weekend of the 7/8 of July, will see Wexford advance to the All-Ireland Quarter Final.

Kilkenny have beaten Wexford by 0-1 in the LSHC. Watch the full-time highlights here on GAANOW. pic.twitter.com/wjD6r4tr3M

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 9, 2018

Kilkenny: E Murphy 0-1f, E Morrissey 0-1, P Walsh 0-1, P Deegan, C O’Shea, C Buckley, P Murphy; C  Fogarty 0-2, J Maher 0-1; C Fennelly, TJ Reid 0-11 (9f, 1’65), R Hogan; B Sheehan, W Walsh, L Scanlon.

Subs: J Holden 0-1 for C O’Shea ht, M Keoghan for C Fennelly ht, R Leahy 0-2 for R Hogan ht, L Blanchfield for B Sheehan 47, J Donnelly 0-2 for L Scanlon 65.

 

Wexford: M Fanning; D Reck, L Ryan, C Firman, P Foley 0-5 (4f), M O’Hanlon, D O’Keeffe 0-1; K Foley 0-1, S Murphy, L Chin 0-3, A Nolan, D Dunne, P Morris 1-1 R O’Connor 0-5 (2f), C McDonald 0-2.

Subs: H Keohoe for K Foley 54, J O’Connor for D Dunne 55, S Donohoe for D O’Keeffee 63, S Tomkins for Morris 70.