Kerry 3-13

Wexford 2-9

Tomás McCarthy at Fraher Field

Kerry recovered from five points down to qualify for their third All Ireland junior football final in four seasons after an entertaining tussle with Wexford in Dungarvan.

The Kingdom blasted 3-4 without response in the final quarter with a double from top scorer Conor Cox and one from substitute Killian Spillane sufficient to see Stephen Wallace’s side advance.

Wexford dominated the possession stakes in the early stages. On 16 minutes, full forward Paudie Barden sold a dummy to David Culhane and his right foot rocket from 25 metres dipped into the top corner of the net past the dive of Shane Murphy. Donal Shanley slotted three frees off the floor and Niall Harney kicked two from play as David Power’s men shaded it by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

Wexford’s 2004 All Star Mattie Forde was introduced at half time and clipped over a sensational point from the right wing within 50 seconds of his arrival. Kerry responded with singles through Conor Cox and Philip O’Connor to reduce the arrears to the minimum. On 46 minutes, Forde intercepted a sideline kick and supplied Michael Dwyer to ripple the roof of the rigging (2-8 to 0-9).

This setback spurred Kerry into action and they reeled off 3-4 in the space of 13 minutes. Conor Cox palmed home twice following defence splitting moves before Spillane netted a third in the final minute of normal time to seal it.

Scorers for Kerry: Conor Cox 2-4 (4fs), Killian Spillane 1-0, Philip O’Connor 0-3, Brendan O’Sullivan 0-2, Thomas Hickey, Liam Kearney, Jeff O’Donoghue, James Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Paudie Barden 1-1, Michael Dwyer 1-0, Donal Shanley 0-3 (3fs), Niall Harney 0-2, Ciaran Redmond, Declan Murphy, Mattie Forde 0-1 each.

Kerry

1. Shane Murphy

2. Dan O’Donoghue

4. David Culhane

7. Gavin Crowley

5. James Walsh

6. Tadhg Morley

17. Eamonn Kiely

8. Gary O’Sullivan

9. Liam Kearney

12. Philip O’Connor

11. Jeff O’Donoghue

10. Brian Crowley

15. Alan O’Donoghue

14. Conor Cox

21. Jordan Kiely

Subs

Killian Spillane for Jeff O’Donoghue (44)

Brendan O’Sullivan for Gary O’Sullivan (47)

Thomas Hickey for Kiely (47)

Adam Barry for Alan O’Donoghue (56)

Wexford

1. Richard Cleary

4. Paul Curtis

3. Jim Rossiter

2. Paraic O’Keeffe

5. Shane Doyle

6. Robbie Vallejo

7. Graham Carty

8. Glen Malone

20. Jim White

10. Niall Harney

11. Donal Shanley

12. Michael Dwyer

13. Mark Rossiter

14. Paudie Barden

9. Kevin Rowe

Subs

Mattie Forde for Rossiter (H-T)

Ciarán Redmond for Rowe (33)

Aaron Maddock for Curtis (44)

Declan Murphy for Malone (50)

Sean Gaul for White (58)

Referee: James Bermingham (Cork)

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