All square in League opener

Billy Drennan hits 2-3 in second half cameo

BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR

REVIEW

Allianz National Hurling League

UPMC Nowlan Park,

Kilkenny 2-16, Wexford 2-16

A share of the spoils for both sides following an intriguing battle at UPMC Nowlan Park. A stop-start first half dominated by the wind provided no indication of what was to come after the short whistle as this Allianz League game came to life and gave the 8,000 plus crowd in attendance value for money. Four goals and thirty-two points shared between Kilkenny and Wexford will have given both managers plenty to ponder before the next round of fixtures.

There were two changes to the Kilkenny team named on Friday, with Dicksboro’s Harry Shine replacing Liam Blanchfield while Cian Kenny was in for Emerald’s Killian Doyle. The home side played with a very strong wind in the first half and got off the mark early on thanks to a placed ball from Eoin Cody in the first minute after Mossy Keoghan was caught high.

Former two-time winner of the Young Hurler of the Year award got his second of the day in the third minute after Dublin whistler Thomas Gleeson blew for a foul hand pass. Both sides then battled as the game struggled to flow in the tough conditions at UPMC Nowlan Park. Wexford captain Lee Chin got the visitors up and running in the 8th minute from a close-range free after All-Star keeper Eoin Murphy was blown up for taking the odd extra step.

Keith Rossiter’s team were level shorty after following a well-worked team move that ended with Rapparees Kevin Foley splitting the posts, much to the delight of the large Wexford following in attendance. That point highlighted the style that the Yellowbellies were employing as they tried to counter the elements with a strong-running game.

Young Dicksboro star, Harry Shine then set up Tullaroan’s Mossy Keoghan for Kilkenny’s first point from play after fifteen minutes of windy action in UPMC Nowlan Park. Naomh Eanna’s Cian Molloy became the second Wexford player to pick up a yellow card for a few slaps on Cats captain for the day, Conor Heary. Eoin Cody duly popped over the free and struck another placed moments later to put the home side 3 points up on 19 minutes.

Former County captain Cody then got his 3rd point on the bounce a minute later from a ‘65 after Adrian Mullen’s effort was deemed to have taken a touch on it way wide. One of the points of the half was then registered by Askamore’s James Byrne, who took a lovely catch before turning and striking a fine point. Eoin Cody then popped over another placed ball to push the Cats lead to 4-points. Despite playing with a significant wind advantage, Derek Lyng’s men appeared reluctant to put long balls into their forward line. When they did, they looked dangerous, and that danger led to a point for Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan.

Wexford’s main man, Lee Chin was living off scraps, and was having to roam very deep to get on any ball, but it was his scores mainly, that were keeping his side in the game, and he struck another placed by on 26 minutes from about 45 metres out. Oylegate-Genbrien’s Seamus Casey then twisted and turned before sending over a cracking point, before Adrian Mullen capped a hard-working first half with a sweet score after nice approach play by Harry Shine and Eoin Cody to leave the half-time score at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny 0-9 Wexford 0-5.

When play resumed, Cian Kenny got the scoreboard moving in the opening seconds of the second half, but Wexford’s response was instant, with Lee Chin stroking over another placed ball. Bennettsbridge’s Kevin Blanchfield who had some good moments in the opening period then struck over a cracking point to leave the home side’s lead at 5-points.

Horeswood’s Conor Foley then burst up the field from full-back before hitting a lovely score, that any forward would have been proud of. One of Wexford’s rising stars, Corey Byrne-Dunbar then rifled over a stunning effort to further enhance his reputation before Captain Chin added another placed ball. Rossiter’s charges were gaining serious momentum and they rubber-stamped this with a flowing team move that saw Cian Molloy strike a great point to leave just one point between the sides.

Billy Ryan, who was operating a little further out the pitch in the second period, then gave a lovely pass to Eoin Cody and the Shamrocks Ballyhale man made no mistake to register a good point. Wexford then withdrew the disappointing Jack O’Connor and replaced him with Tomas Kinsella, while Derek Lyng replaced Kevin Blanchfield with Erin’s Own’s Conor Fogarty. Cian Molloy then found more space before notching his second point of the game. Kilkenny made their second change of the game with Galmoy’s Billy Drennan entering the fray in place of Harry Shine.

Then came what was to be the first of four majors in an action-packed second half. Kilkenny, who had almost been caught out in the opening half with short re-starts, were punished when Kevin Foley broke the ball to Seamus Casey who made no mistake in finishing to the net. 49 minutes gone at UPMC Nowlan Park and the Slaneysiders were now leading by two points. The Cats needed a response, and they got it from Billy Drennan.

The Maynooth University student hit a brace of placed balls before he found himself standing over a penalty after Mossy Keoghan’s strong run was halted illegally. Drennan stepped up and struck his shot past Mark Fanning in the Wexford goal. Having only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, the Galmoy man had 1-2 to his name and more importantly had helped put his side back in the lead. Askamore’s Tomas Kinsella then got a lovely point to settle the Wexford nerves, but Drennan struck his third placed ball effort of the second half over the bar to keep his team 3 points ahead with about 10 minutes remaining. Cian Byrne, who had replaced Corey Byrne-Dunbar, then rifled over a sweet effort off his right side before Lee Chin popped a lovely pass to Seamus Casey who splits the posts to leave just the minimum between the neighbours.

Fresh from his lung bursting run early in the second period, Conor Foley drew the sides level with another fine point with 5 minutes of normal time remaining. Not content with this, the Yellowbellies then took the lead thanks to a second point of the day for Tucker Kinsella. The Kilkenny faithful in UPMC Nowlan Park were stunned and fearing a repeat of the Walsh Cup result in Callan.

With two minutes left, Adrian Mullen struck a lovely score to deadlock matters and the home supporters found their voices inside the ground. The drama was far from over. The Noresiders wanted maximum points and went on the attack in search of a winning score. Billy Drennan stormed forward and slipped the ball to the on-running Billy Ryan. The Graigue Ballycallan man looked primed to off load a shot but has fouled. Penalty!!!

One of Wexford’s best performers on the day, Damien Reck picked up a second yellow card and left the field, leaving his teammates to finish the game with 14 men.

Again, Billy Drennan stepped up and rifled the effort beyond Fanning to the net. Surely the 3-point lead would be enough to cling to in the closing stages? 3 minutes of additional time was signaled, and Keith Rossiter’s men weren’t finished.

Lee Chin, who wasn’t his usual influential self; powered forward and struck his shot which Eoin Murphy partially blocked, but Cian Byrne was on hand to tap in the rebound. The sides were level again. Kilkenny did have a chance to nick it deep into injury time, but Billy Drennan’s long-range free dropped short and was cleared away from danger. Referee Thomas Gleeson sounded the long whistle, spoils shared at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny and Wexford 2-16 a piece.

Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Moylan, D Corcoran, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, J Molloy; C Kenny (0-01), K Blanchfield (0-01); A Mullen (0-02), E Cody (0-07, 5f, 65), C Heary; B Ryan (0-01), H Shine, M Keoghan (0-01)

Subs: C Fogarty for K Blanchfield (47); B Drennan (2-03, 2-00p, 0-03f) for H Shine (48); C Buckley for C Kenny (65); M Carey for R Reid (71).

Wexford: M Fanning; N Murphy, C Foley (0-02), E Ryan; C McGuckin, D Reck, C Hearne; C Byrne Dunbar (0-01), C Molloy (0-02); J O’Connor, L Chin (0-04, 4f); K Foley (0-01); J Byrne (0-01), R Lawlor, S Casey (1-02).

Subs: S Reck for C Hearne 40th min; T Kinsella (0-02) for J O’Connor 45th min; C Byrne (1-01) for C Byrne Dunbar 55th min; C Dunbar for J Byrne 63rd min; S Donohoe for K Foley 69th min.

Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)

> SHERRY SAYS…

A cracking second half at UPMC Nowlan Park served up by both sides in difficult conditions, and I don’t think either manager will be too unhappy with the points shared. For Kilkenny, Jordan Molloy had a decent debut in the black and amber, and will no doubt pick up more appearances as the season wares on. Eoin Cody had a decent game, and like sub Billy Drennan, was accurate from placed ball efforts in TJ’s absence.

Darragh Corcoran performed well at full-back, while Cian Kenny, back after hamstring trouble was lively throughout.

Attention will now turn to our trip to tomorrow’s trip to Supervalu, sorry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Rebels came up short against Clare last weekend, undone by a 3rd quarter display that yielded only 1 point to the Banners seven.

As ever, Cork will look to their TJ, Patrick Horgan. The big man hit 1-7 in the defeat to Clare and will be a threat as ever from placed balls. Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane are dangerous players and will need watching, while Shane Barrett will be pushing for a start after coming on to score 0-2 last week. Robbie O’Flynn was back after injury and will be all the better for those minutes, while manager Pat Ryan will hope to have Mark Coleman in his panel for the game, depending on Fitzgibbon Cup commitments.

Going down to Leeside is never easy and Derek Lyng will need his experienced heads to stand up and show their leadership if the Cats are to get the better of the Rebels.