Wexford land first Minor title since 1985

Wexford 3-14

Kilkenny 3-10

Wexford won their first Leinster Minor Hurling final since 1985 as they beat Kilkenny by 4 points this afternoon in the Electric Ireland sponsored competition this afternoon in Croke Park.

A lightening start from Wexford saw them race in a 0-03 to 0-00 lead, all three points coming from Rathnure’s, AJ Redmond.

Kilkenny reduced the deficit to the minium, but Richie Lawlor’s surging run drew the tackle and he set up David Cantewell in the 14^th minute to rattle the Kilkenny net.

In the 25^th minute Kilkenny were rewarded after a fine passing movement resulted in a Jack Doyle goal- 1-05 to 1-05. Two late first half frees from AJ Redmond sent Wexford into the dressing room with a 2 point lead at halftime.

With little between the sides in the second half, points were traded, and with 8 minutes to go the sides were all square 1-09 each.

Shortly afterwards a penetrating run from Luke Kavanagh saw the Martins man lay off a hand pass to AJ Redmond, the Rathnure man had plenty to do, he juggled the ball and rifled it to the corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.

‘A team is most vulnerable just after scoring’, is a phrase often heard, like many ‘myths,’ there is rarely any evidence given to prove them, but it is actually true- 40 seconds later the ball was in the back of the Wexford net!

Less than a minute later, with their confidence up, Kilkenny struck the front for the first and only time in the game.

Four pin pointed frees, from AJ, saw Wexford gain a 3 point lead as the game entered the 3 minutes of injury time sanctioned by the referee. Richie Lawlor set up Cian Byrne, the sub, not the goalkeeper, as the Fethard man goaled to send Wexford fans into ecstasy, Kilkenny now trailed by 7 points.

A late goal for Kilkenny reduced the margin to 4 points as Wexford their first minor title since 1985, to bring their championship haul to eight; 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1985, and 2019.

AJ Redmond 1-11 (0-9 frees), David Cantwell 1-1, Cian Byrne 1-0, Paddy Whitty 0-1, and Jack Kirwan 0-1.

Wexford will play their All-Ireland semi-final in Páirc an Chrócaigh on the weekend of the 27/28 of July.