Wexford end hoodoo with extra-time victory

Wexford 2-16

Both attacks appeared sharp but Wexford were wasteful as they struck eight first half wides to their opponent's two.

Kilkenny hit the front in the second minute with a Noel O'Doherty point, and with points from Ollie O'Connor and Patrick Farrell led 0-3 to 0-2 early on. Michael Jacob did all the work to set up Eddie Cullen who had switched to the right corner of the attack and he coolly shot past keeper Richie O'Neill from an acute angle to give the home-side the lead for the first time.

While Kilkenny managed five further points before the break mainly through the accuracy of Ollie O'Connor and Patrick Farrell, it was points from Michael Jacob and Francis Simpson which gave the home-side a 1-6 to 0-8 interval lead. Eight minutes into the second half Wexford struck for a 2-6 to 0-10 lead with a Chris McGrath goal.

However, the Kilkenny response was swift through point-taking from Brian Phelan and Diarmuid Mackey. They held a single point lead entering injury-time but Wexford forced extra-time when Chris McGrath hit a 62nd minute free to leave the sides level, 0-17 to 2-11.

Wexford dominated the first period of extra-time to lead 2-15 to 0-17, with points from Diarmuid Lyng, Chris McGrath (2) and Eddie Cullen as Kilkenny failed to score. In a thrilling climax Wexford held off a late Kilkenny surge to emerge deserved victors.

Wexford: C. McGrath (1-7); E. Cullen (1-1); F. Simpson, M. Jacob (0-3 each); N. Higgins, D. Lyng (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: O. O'Connor (0-6); P. Farrell (0-4); J. Barron, B. Phelan, D. Mackey (0-2 each); J. Power, N. Doherty, P. Sheehan (0-1 each).

WEXFORD: P. Carley, D. Caulfield, E. Furlong, N. Maguire, S. Fenlon, S. Carley, M. Murphy, R. Hassey, N. Higgins, M. Jacob, M. J. Reck, E. Cullen, C. McGrath, D. Kent, F. Simpson.

KILKENNY: R. O'Neill, K. Hughes, B. Barcoe, S. Lanigan, P. Costelloe, J. Costelloe, E. Mackey, P. Farrell, J. Power, P. Sheehan, J. Barron, N. Doherty, B. Phelan, A. Cleere, O. O'Connor.

Referee: J. Sheridan (Kildare).