TJ reclaims all-time leading scoring record in Wexford rout
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship 2026
Kilkenny 5-21 Wexford 1-16
UPMC Nowlan Park
After a second thrashing of the season in Salthill, Kilkenny found some home comforts when they demolished Wexford at UPMC Nowlan Park last Saturday, registering five majors on a day when their legendary talisman TJ Reid overtook Cork’s Patrick Horgan to reclaim the all-time championship scoring record. Afterwards, the affable Shamrocks sharpshooter was keen to play down that feat and focus purely on a much better performance but more importantly, getting a vital win in their bid to claim a 7th consecutive Leinster title. The Cats stepped on the gas in the second half and a brace of goals in five minutes put paid to any ideas Keith Rossiter’s side may have had on leaving Noreside with anything in the round 2 fixture. Star of the show was Tullaroan’s Martin ‘Mossy’ Keoghan who put in a stunning performance to help put Wexford to the sword, notching 2-3 as he showed his class at Kilkenny HQ.
Derek Lyng and his management team made one major change to the named XV, former All-Star goalkeeper Eoin Murphy replacing Aidan Tallis between the sticks. The Lisdowney netminder wasn’t in the squad; his number was taken by Thomastown’s Diarmuid Galway. The first two scores of the evening came from two of the elder statesmen of the game, Lee Chin and TJ Reid to leave the sides level after two minutes. The next score arrived in the seventh minute, Player of the Match Mossy Keoghan firing over the first of his 2-3, after his side had hit four wide’s, but the visitors replied with a tidy score from Oylegate-Glenbrien’s Damien Reck, who as usual gave his all for Wexford.
The home side then found a little rhythm and struck the games next five scores. Conahy’s Tom Phelan, who looked lively throughout, notched the first of the five and this was added to by efforts from O’Loughlin’s Jordan Molloy, Bennettsbridge’s David Blanchfield, while two of the games earlier marksmen, Mossy and TJ added to their tally’s as the men in black and amber went five clear after 17minutes of action. Faythe Harriers Clubman Lee Chin stepped up for the Slaneysiders, and reeled off the next three scores, two from placed ball efforts and one from play. You could sense both teams were possibly playing with a bit of fear, but the home side struck next via a free from TJ, but Rossiter’s charges replied with a point from Oulart-the-Ballagh’s Simon Roche. Mossy Keoghan, whose movement was exceptional in the game, split the posts just ahead of a placed ball from TJ. A second point of the clash followed for Tom Phelan, but Shelmaliers Conor Hearne rifled over to leave Wexford four in arrears.
The first two goals for the provincial clash then arrived in quick succession. Some lovely interplay between Paddy Deegan and TJ, saw the ball worked to Jordan Molloy who immediately drove the ball towards Mossy who plucked the sliotar from the air superbly before turning on the burners and racing clear of opposition captain Jack O’Connor. Faced by centre back Richie Lawlor, The Sash attacker gave the dummy pass before rifling a fierce shot beyond Mark Fanning in the Wexford goal. Pace, skill and confidence from the Tullaroan man to ignite his side. They say a team is at their most vulnerable having scored a goal, and this certainly proved to be true in UPMC Nowlan Park. From the restart, Fanning went long into the Cats defence. Emerald’s Killian Doyle tried to work the ball out of the danger zone, but the rampaging Conor Hearne powered forward before slipping an inch-perfect pass to the unmarked Kevin Foley who gave Eoin Murphy no chance with his fine finish for the last score of a hard-fought opening period.
When play resumed after the short whistle, it was the rampaging Conor Hearne that struck over the first point of the second half. The visitors made their first change of the game in the 39th minute, St Mogue’s Cillian Byrne replacing captain Jack O’Connor. Killian Doyle got the Cats going, striking over a lovely score, just ahead of Wexford sub Cillian Byrne getting on the scoresheet. Then came the home side’s second green flag raiser. TJ stood over a sideline cut on the left side, about 50 metres out got a really good connection on it. As the ball dropped, it deflected off Richie Lawlor’s hand into the path of Liam Moore. His first touch gave him space; his second swept the sliotar to the net to give Kilkenny a six-point lead.
The Yellowbellies showed character and chalked up the games next two scores, a quality brace from Rapparees Kevin Foley, who impressed for the visitors on the evening. James Stephen’s Cian Kenny, who appeared to be enjoying his centre forward role, then fired over a sweet score but was about to raise the games next green flag. Ivan Bolger picked up possession deep inside his own half, struck a pass down the sideline towards Tom Phelan. The Conahy man picked it up and raced towards the Wexford goal, a point appeared likely, but some lovely improvisation from Phelan saw him offload to the supporting Kenny who struck his effort into the ground and under the advancing Wexford keeper. Lyng’s troops now leading by eight points in front of the large crowd inside UPMC Nowlan Park. You felt that Keith Rossiter’s men would need to find the net again to get back in the round two encounter, but it looked unlikely. Lee Chin, who was marshalled well all evening by Mikey Carey, popped over a free, but it would be the men in black and amber that would goal again.
Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Darragh Corcoran, who was on top form all evening, played a ball seeking out clubmate Eoin Cody, who despite not troubling the scoreboard, was getting through mountains of work. While Cody battled for the ball with Shane Reck, the buzzing Keoghan stole the ball and headed for goal before batting beautifully past the helpless Fanning to increase Kilkenny’s lead to ten points on 55 minutes and put the result beyond any doubt. The Noresiders continued to apply the pressure, and both TJ Reid and the impressive Cian Kenny struck over a brace of points each, just ahead of a fine effort from O’Loughlin’s Paddy Deegan. Another of the OLG contingent, Jordan Molloy continued his good form, striking over a trademark score. Wexford’s final score of the evening came from a placed ball via the hurl of Lee Chin, but the home side weren’t quite finished working the scoreboard or umpires just yet.
Despite being home and hosed, the hunger and desire continued to show from the Cats. As Wexford tried to work the ball out of defence, they were swarmed by those in black and amber. Paddy Deegan emerged with the ball, and everyone thought he was going to rifle over his second point of the game, but the classy versatile stickman gave a lovely pass across the pitch to TJ. Faced by Shane Reck, Reid seemed certain to pop the ball over the bar, but his instinct and hunger suggested that there was greater reward ahead. TJ created the yard he needed and blasted to the net to pull level with the recently retired Pa Horgan in terms of championship scoring. Fittingly, the last score of the game came from a placed ball by yours truly, TJ Reid, bringing his total scoring in championship hurling to 41-657. Legend. Full time score, Kilkenny 5-21 Wexford 1-16.
Scorers for Kilkenny: T.J. Reid (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-2 65s); M. Keoghan (2-3); C. Kenny (1-3); L. Moore (1-0); T. Phelan, J. Molloy (0-2 each); D. Blanchfield, K. Doyle, P. Deegan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Wexford: L. Chin (0-6, 4 frees); K. Foley (1-2); S. Roche, C. Byrne, D. Reck (0-2 each); C. Hearne, R. Banville (0-1 each).
KILKENNY: E. Murphy; M. Butler, M. Carey, I. Bolger; D. Blanchfield, D. Corcoran, P. Deegan; K. Doyle, J. Molloy; T. Phelan, C. Kenny, L. Moore; M. Keoghan, T.J. Reid (c), E. Cody.
Subs for Kilkenny: S. Donnelly for T. Phelan (56); T. Clifford for K. Doyle (62); S. Murphy for I. Bolger (70); R. Reid for C. Kenny (70+2); G. Dunne for M. Keoghan (70+6).
WEXFORD: M. Fanning; S. Reck, L. Ryan, D. Carley; D. Reck, R. Lawlor, C. Foley; C. Hearne, D. O’Leary; J. O’Connor (c), S. Roche, R. Banville; K. Foley, L. Chin, J. Redmond.
Subs for Wexford: C. Byrne for J. O’Connor (39); S. Rowley for S. Roche (51); D. Clarke for L. Ryan (57); J. Byrne for D. O’Leary (60); T. Kinsella for J. Redmond (70+5).
Referee: J. Murphy (Limerick)
