Keoghan double eases Kilkenny to eight-point victory over Wexford 

Martin Keoghan of Kilkenny shoots past Cathal Dunbar of Wexford to score his side's second goal, in the 29th minute. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Kilkenny 2-17 Wexford 0-15

This was all one-way traffic as Kilkenny disposed of a feeble Wexford challenge in this one-sided Allianz League Division 1A game at Wexford Park.

Kilkenny, attempting to bounce back from their defeat to Galway, handed Harry Shine, Stephen Donnelly and Killian Doyle their first competitive starts of 2025.

Experienced Wexford duo Kevin Foley and Jack O'Connor joined Lee Chin, Liam Ryan, Conor McDonald and Shane Reck on the missing list, leading manager Keith Rossiter fielding a depleted side as they sought out their first victory of the campaign.

Wexford coming off back-to-back defeats needed a strong start, but it was the Cats who were purring from the start as they took an early initiative going on to dominate the home side.

Kilkenny were out to atone for their home defeat to Galway as they launched a series of early attacks racing into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead inside the opening four minutes. It was Billy Ryan who got the scoring in motion with a point within sixty seconds. This was followed with further points from a Mikey Carey long-range effort, Eoin Cody, and Cian Kenny.

Wexford were struggling all over the pitch and had to wait until the ninth minute for their opening score a Cian Byrne pointed free.

Playing with greater skill and aggression, Kilkenny were turning their dominance into scores.

After home keeper Mark Fanning denied Harry Shine with a superb save, the breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Martin Keoghan got on the end of a move that prised open the home defence to finish with a low shot to the net, giving his side a 1-6 to 0-1 lead.

With Wexford unable to register a single first-half score from play, it was Keoghan who struck with his second goal eight minutes before the break leaving his side with a 2-10 to 0-4 interval lead, with Wexford first half scores arriving courtesy of two frees each from Fanning and Byrne.

Cian Byrne, with two pointed frees within minutes of the restart, briefly raised Wexford hopes, but it was short-lived as normal service was quickly resumed with Kilkenny responding with two Cian Kenny points.

Kilkenny were simply going through the motions as they comfortably dealt with a feeble Wexford challenge as Cody and Jordan Molloy continued to pick off points while Wexford were dependent on the free-taking of Byrne.

The second half turned into a tame affair as Kilkenny kept their league hopes alive while Wexford dipped further into the relegation zone, remaining pointless from three games.

Scorers for Kilkenny: M Keoghan 2-0; E Cody 0-7 frees; C Kenny 0-3; J Molloy, B Ryan, H Shine 0-2 each; M Carey 0-1.

Scorers for Wexford: C Byrne 0-7 frees; M Fanning 0-3 frees; R Lawlor 0-2; C Hearne, C Dunbar, ,S Casey (f), S Roche 0-1 each.

Wexford: M Fanning: C Foley, S Donohoe, E Ryan, C McGuckin, D Reck, R Lawlor; C Hearne C Dunbar; Darren Codd, J Redmond, C Byrne-Dunbar; Cian Byrne, R O'Connor, C Flood. 

Subs: C Molloy for Donohoe (15), Collins Byrne for O'Connor (23), S Roche for Codd (ht), S Casey for Flood (50), J Byrne for Byrne-Dunbar (68).

Kilkenny: A Tallis; M Butler H Lawlor, S Murphy; D Blanchfield, M Carey, P Deegan; K Doyle, J Molloy, M Keoghan, C Kenny, B Ryan, S Donnelly, E Cody H Shine.

Subs: B Drennan for Donnolly (56), E Lyng for Keoghan (55), P Connellan for Deegan (59), B Reid for Carey (66), N Shortall for Ryan (66).

Referee: L Gordon (Galway).