Kilkenny and Wexford to meet in Leinster U-21 final

Kilkenny and Wexford will meet in the Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship final following semi-final wins over Offaly and Carlow respectively this evening.

Reigning champions Kilkenny did not have it all their own way before running out 1-19 to 1-13 winners over Offaly at O'Connor Park in Tullamore.

Stephen Quirke fired over seven points as Offaly led by 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time, with Kevin Kelly, John Power and Shane Donnelly keeping Kilkenny in touch.

The young Cats rallied on the restart with a trio of scores to claim a 0-11 to 0-9 lead by the 37th minute. Offaly bounced back with 1-1 without reply, with Quirke netting a penalty goal to push Ger Coughlan's side 1-10 to 0-11 in front.

Little separated the sides in the middle third of the second half, but a 51st minute goal from Michael Brennan gave Kilkenny a lead they would not relinquish.

The visitors scored 1-5 without reply in the closing 10 minutes, with Kilkenny goalkeeper Aaron Duggan also denying Quirke from a penalty in the 53rd minute, as Kilkenny advanced to the another provincial decider.

At Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow, Wexford dug deep to claim a 1-12 to 0-9 victory over hosts Carlow.

Wexford substitute Conor Goff was dismissed on a second yellow card, but JJ Doyle's charges weathered the storm to book a Leinster final spot.

Man-of-the-match Ian Byrne's 51st-minute goal was vital, opening up a four-point gap for the first time.

Wexford fielded four of their senior panel in the starting side including captain Lee Chin, while Carlow included seven senior players in their selected team.

The sides were level on four occasions during an entertaining opening half, but both counties squandered a number of opportunities in front of the posts.

The counties fired six wides apiece in the opening 30 minutes, with Wexford in particular keen on going for goals in the first half.

The sides were level on six occasions during the game, including four times in the opening half, with Carlow edging into a 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead thanks to a fourth point of the night from Marty Kavanagh.

Wexford took the lead inside three minutes of the restart courtesy of points from Gary Moore and Barry Carton and although Carlow levelled soon after, the Barrowsiders only scored one more point during the final 25 minutes.

Goff's dismissal gave Carlow supporters some hope, but Wexford finished strongly with Byrne's decisive goal settling the issue.