Ref causes a storm

A CONTROVERSIAL refereeing decision four minutes before the break changed the course of this Leinster MHC semi-final at Wexford Park on Saturday which Kilkenny triumphed on a 2-19 to 2-13 scoreline over Wexford.

Wicklow official John Keenan endured the wrath of home fans when he dismissed Wexford wing-back Colm Heffernan for a second yellow card offence.

Kilkenny took the lead inside 30 seconds when Conor Martin goaled from close range.

Wexford then hit a purple patch and led 1-6 to 1-4 at the end of the opening quarter, their goal coming from Jack Guiney. Aidan Nolan’s beautiful ground stroke to the net on 22 minutes delighted the home fans as the hosts led 2-10 to 1-8 at the interval.

Marksman Kelly led the Kilkenny fight back on the restart. Kelly goaled for them to ignite their challenge.

The numerical advantage began to tell as Kilkenny stormed through to the final with a rather flattering end scoreline.

* In the other semi-final, Oisín O’Rorke’s 60th minute goal concluded a wonderful week for Dublin hurling as they deservedly accounted for Westmeath in the Leinster MHC semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday evening, running out 1-16 to 2-7 winners.

Westmeath started well and were boosted by the game’s opening goal inside 45 seconds from Niall O’Brien.

O’Brien maintained Westmeath’s four-point advantage with a point but Dublin assumed dominance for much of the half, hitting 10 points of their own.

Westmeath were handed a lifeline when full-forward David Higgins flicked to the net and the margin was reduced to just two with six minutes remaining but substitute Brian McCarthy and O’Rorke settled the tie with late goals.