Kilkenny 0-30
Wexford 1-14
EDDIE BRENNAN’S KILKENNY inflicted a second Leinster final defeat on Wexford in the space of four days this evening in Nowlan Park.
The Cats lifted the provincial U21 hurling crown for the first time since 2012 and booked their place in the last four of the All-Ireland series. Kilkenny will face the Ulster champions in the semi-final on 19 August.
Brian Cody was in attendance as Kilkenny enjoyed a comfortable victory, putting up an impressive 30 points in the 60 minutes of action.
A red card for Brian Quigley in the 19th minute scuppered Wexford’s chances and from that point the result never looked in doubt.
Kilkenny blew Wexford away early on but Stephen O’Gorman gave the away side hope with a well-taken goal against the run of play.
Kilkenny led by 0-17 to 1-6 at the interval, with Liam Blanchfield, Alan Murphy and Richie Leahy all looking menacing in attack for the eventual winners.
John Doyle, Cathal Dunbar and Rory O’Connor hit good scores in the second-half for the Model who never gave up, but Kilkenny were always in control.
Pat Lyng and subs Shane Walsh (2) and Luke Scanlon put the icing on the cake late on as the Cats racked up a massive tally.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Richie Leahy 0-5, Alan Murphy 0-5f (0-5f), Luke Scanlon 0-4, James Bergin 0-3 (0-3f), Jason Cleere 0-3, Billy Ryan, Sean Morrissey and John Donnelly 0-2 each, Liam Blanchfield, Pat Lyng, Eoin Kenny and Shane Walsh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Joe Coleman 0-5 (0-5f), Stephen O’Gorman 1-0, John Doyle 0-2 (0-1f), Cathal Dunbar and Rory O’Connor 0-2 each, Joe O’Connor, Cormac Moore and Darren Codd 0-1 each.
Kilkenny
Darren Brennan
Michael Cody
Conor Delaney
James Burke
Darren Mullen
Jason Cleere
Tommy Walsh
Luke Scanlon
Pat Lyng
Alan Murphy
John Donnelly
Sean Morrissey
Richie Leahy
Liam Blanchfield
Billy Ryan
Subs
Ryan Bergin for Burke (31)
James Bergin for Murphy (39)
Eoin Kenny for Blanchfield (44)
John Walsh for Ryan (50)
Shane Walsh for Donnelly (57)
Wexford
Darragh Hughes
Conor Firman
Darren Byrne
Shane Reck
Brian Quigley
Aaron Maddock
Gary Molloy
Joe O’Connor
Rowan White
Sam Kelly
Rory O’Connor
Joe Coleman
Cathal Dunbar
Stephen O’Gorman
Harry O’Connor
Subs
Jake Firman for Kelly (31)
Darren Codd for H. O’Connor (35)
John Doyle for Coleman (40)
Cormac Moore for White (45)
Darragh Pepper for O’Gorman (48)
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
Kilkenny are gone alright aren’t they ??!!
@John Hayes: Let Galway into Leinster, create some competition? See how good KK really are!
Sure, we have been shown galway how good we are for years now
@Bazz: We dont fear ye like most Leinster teams, softened yer cough plenty of times!!
@Lord Clanricarde: Lots of times in the last 29 years!
@Bazz: yea, but ye don’t allow them to play any home games against any of the Leinster teams and don’t allow their minors or U-21 teams into Leinster either. Great way of developing hurling!
@Pat Noone: how many times since Galway joined leinster do you think Kilkenny have played a championship game in Nowlan Park???
Once, so will galway please get over the home game chip on their shoulder.
Hurling development would be setting up hurling in connacht. Plus at u21 and minor in Leinster i think there are enough teams and enough games.
Very impressive display from kk tonight. They just need 3-4 of the to step up to seniors in the next few years and they’ll be right back in the hunt at senior level
Some very impressive performances from the likes of Mullen, Cleere, Leahy, Donnelly and the midfield pairing. Plenty of hope there and with the minors also performing well, the future looks bright for Kilkenny.
I wonder if Cody will throw in 1 or 2 from the start on Saturday. It wouldn’t be the 1st time that he has surprised a few with his team selection.
@James Quinn: that Donnelly is a tank of a man. Looks so awkward. Darragh Joyce woukd have been some addition to that team.
Richie Leahy looks to be a prospect as does Mullen. Its a pith John Walsh did his ACL at the start of 2016. He would have been a big part of this team if he hadnt.
Never a red card
As a wexford man watchin that, twas QUARE bad!
Galway should be added to the Leinster minor & u21 c’ships to make it more competitive.
The Leinster & Munster winners should go straight to the semi finals, with the runners up going through to a quarter final with Antrim & one other playing off in anther quarter final.
How is it fair that some counties have to win six games, but Galway or Antrim only have to win two? How’s that fair.
Galway should be allowed into Leinster for minor & u21 to make it more competitive.
The u21 c’ship needs to be restructured. The Leinster & Munster provincial winners should go straight into a All Ireland semi final, with the provincial runners up playing a quarter final against Antrim + one other.
Some teams have to win 6 games, while others only have to win 2?? Totally unfair.