GAA: Cats pounce on Model County

Kilkenny 2-19, Wexford 0-12 (full-time)

Even with 14 players - John Hoyne being sent off for a second yellow after 43 mins - Kilkenny still showed the mantle of champions as they turned in a devastating closing 20 minutes to cast aside Wexford's challenge in their Leinster Hurling Final at Croke Park.

Wexford were struggling to stay in contention at this stage trailing 0-11 to 1-08, but it was substitute Eddie Brennan who pounced for a splendid 48th minute goal, which ended the challenge of the Model County.

Kilkenny, in the closing 20 minutes turned on the style with Charlie Carter, DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin tearing the Wexford defence to shreds as they went on to pick off some excellent scores, with only the brilliance of wexford goalie Damian Fitzhenry saving the challengers from an even heavier defeat.

Wexford struggled to gain a grip on the early exchanges in the opening half, but this 35 minutes really belonged to Charlie Carter, who fired over four excellent points from play to add to an opportunist eighth-minute goal from DJ Carey after Damian Fitzhenry had saved from Henry Sheffling.

The Kilkenny defence with their outstanding central pairing of Noel Hickey and Eamonn Kennedy denied the Wexford attack.

Rory McCarthy fluffed Wexford's only real goal opportunity following excellent defending from Michael Kavanagh.

It was the point-taking from Paul Codd from frees, which kept Wexford in touch, but even still the defending champions still managed a six-point interval lead - 1-10 ot 0-07.

The second half belonged to 14-man Kilkenny who must now be installed as firm favourites to retain their title.