Contentious penalty paves the way for home win
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Round 5, UPMC Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 1-24
Wexford 2-20
Referee: Liam Gordon
Kilkenny held off a strong challenge from Wexford to advance to this year’s provincial decider where they will face-off against Micheál Donoghue’s Dublin, who emerged from Salthill with a tremendous victory over Henry Shefflin’s Galway. TJ Reid was the star man on Noreside, hitting a match winning 1-13 for the Cats, including a debatable second half penalty, but there were plenty of players in the famous stripes who stood up when needed in this round 5 clash last weekend.
Derek Lyng’s side lined out as per the programme, and it was good to see Adrian Mullen and Walter Walsh listed amongst the substitutes. There was a huge crowd inside UPMC Nowlan Park, and from the noise levels it appeared the majority were cheering on the visitors.
From the throw-in, it was clear Richie Reid was at centre-half- back, while captain Paddy Deegan was in the engine room of midfield. The travelling crowd found their voices in the opening exchanges when the lively Naomh Eanna player, Conor McDonald got the better of Tommy Walsh to fire over for Keith Rossiter’s outfit. The star of last week’s win over the Dubs, John Donnelly got the Noresiders off the mark on 3 minutes, but the Yellowbellies replied immediately with a fine point from Rory O’Connor after the St Martin’s clubman shipped a heavy challenge.
TJ Reid got his first point of the day a couple of minutes later from the placed ball, a welcome score for the legendary forward, following his mixed bag from frees a week earlier, remember, class always shines through. Cathal Dunbar then finished off a lovely team move to edge his side ahead, as the Wexford crowd raised their voices once more. Then came what could have been a huge moment in the game. Mossy Keoghan looked to be through on goal but appeared to be dragged down – penalty and a black card surely? No penalty, no black card, a free-in and a yellow card for St James’ Matthew O’ Hanlon, lucky boy. TJ popped over the free, one point instead of a possible three.
Cian Byrne back in the line-up after suspension, then sent over a lovely point, following good play from the lively Conor McDonald, who was winning his battle with Tommy Walsh. From the restart, Eoin Murphy picked out his captain Paddy Deegan and the O’Loughlin’s man split the posts from distance to nudge the hosts back in front. Wexford’s main man and captain Lee Chin then struck his first point of the afternoon from a free, before his opposite number responded after Tom Phelan was fouled.
St Mogues Fethard man Cian Byrne then put on the burners and left Mikey Butler trailing before rifling over to level matters once more. The next McDonald vs Walsh battle resulted in a win for the former, and this allowed Chin to secure the lead again for the visitors. The first of two majors for the Slaneysiders then arrived with 20 minutes of high intensity hurling played at UPMC Nowlan Park. A searching ball into Eoin Cody saw the Shamrocks man surrender possession and Damien Reck sent a long pass into Conor McDonald who grabbed it and finished it to the Kilkenny net. Was this Chadwicks Wexford Park? The noise would have made you think so!
Keith Rossiter’s side built on this major score with a great point by Cathal Dunbar, his second of the day as the visiting support once again made their voices heard in the Marble City. From Eoin Murphy’s puck out, Richie Reid was afforded the freedom of the park and punished this rare occurrence in UPMC Nowlan Park. Wexford captain Lee Chin tagged on another placed ball and in the blink of an eye, the Yellowbellies lead was five points. Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan combined with The ‘Bridge’s David Blanchfield to set up Paddy Deegan for a much-needed score for the Cats, but again, Lee Chin cancelled this out when he converted another free.
Wexford were hurling better, smarter and were more economical with their scoring attempts. TJ fired over a free on 27 minutes after David Blanchfield was fouled, but as with most of the action in the opening period, the opposition responded with another point, a classy one made and taken by Faythe Harriers Lee Chin, catch and shoot, it’s a simple game. Leaders were needed and TJ battled hard to give Mossy Keoghan the chance to fire over. Thomastown’s John Donnelly then provided Billy Ryan with a chance to register, and he did just that. The final score of an enthralling first half came from Kilkenny and again a placed ball courtesy of TJ which saw the Noresiders head to the changing rooms two points in arrears, 0-12 to 1-11.
Derek Lyng made one change at the interval, Erin’s Own’s Conor Fogarty replacing Conahy’s Tom Phelan, a move that saw Cian Kenny move into the half forward line. Billy Ryan got the scoreboard moving after the break with another lovely score before a poor pass from David Blanchfield was punished by St Anne’s Liam Og McGovern who split the posts for Wexford’s first score in the second half. TJ then showed his artistry when he scored from a sideline cut from 50 – odd yards, a momentum building score.
The next four scores all came from the men in black and amber. TJ levelled matters with a free before the 3rd of the day from captain Paddy Deegan, this time from inside his own half pushed the home side into the lead. The impressive Mikey Carey then got on the scoresheet with a cracking point, thanks to good work by Billy Ryan. TJ rounded off this purple patch by nailing another placed ball to leave Kilkenny up by 3 points after 47 minutes of intense action. Another fast break by the pacy Cian Byrne resulted in a welcomed score for the Slaneysiders, but their renaissance was short lived.
Eoin Cody had been in and around the action all afternoon, without his work showing in scoring terms, then showed excellent movement and pace as raced towards Mark Fanning’s goal. Rapparees Liam Ryan was determined to prevent a major from the Shamrocks Ballyhale man, and in doing so was adjudged to have fouled the Cats attacker. Referee Liam Gordon signaled penalty to Kilkenny; it did look a little harsh on Wexford but perhaps it was making up for O’Hanlon’s dragging down of Mossy in the opening period. Either way, TJ waited, composed himself and dispatched his shot past Glynn-Barnstown’s Fanning. The home side’s lead now out to five points.
A Wexford response was to be expected and it started with a fine point from St Martin’s Rory O’Connor. The much-involved Billy Ryan then won a free and TJ did the necessary, before Eoin Cody fired over his one and only point of the game, a cracker it was too. Kevin Foley and Jack O’Connor hit two scores for Rossiter’s outfit while the Cats notched a placed ball from TJ. Lee Chin and Billy Ryan swapped scores before the speedster Byrne rattled home the visitors second major with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Yet again, TJ settled the home side’s nerves by popping over another placed ball, but the Yellowbellies didn’t run away, they kept coming. Conor McDonald hit his second of the day on 68 minutes, two points behind as nerves on both sides appeared to set in, as did the torrential rain and the hailstones, definitely a case of four seasons in one day. Over the PA system in UPMC Nowlan Park, four minutes of additional time were announced, it seemed like four hours. Kilkenny needed to keep the ball and they looked to TJ to drag them over the line and the veteran forward continued to lead the way in getting on the ball.
There would be three more scores in UPMC Nowlan Park. TJ struck over a thirteenth point while Lee Chin replied with a free of his own and Shelmalier’s Conor Hearne pointed for the Slaneysiders to make it a 1-point game. Wexford went in search of an equalising score or possibly a winning one, but Mikey Butler emerged with the sliotar to be greeted by the beautiful sound of Liam Gordon’s whistle. Final score, Kilkenny 1-24, Wexford 2-20.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid (1-13, 12f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 s/l), P Deegan, B Ryan (0-3 each), J Donnelly, R Reid, M Keoghan, M Carey, E Cody (0-1 each).
Scorers for Wexford: L Chin (0-7, 6f), C Byrne (1-3), C McDonald (1-2), R O’Connor, C Dunbar (0-2 each), L Og McGovern, K Foley, J O’Connor, Conor Hearne (0-1 each).
Kilkenny: E Murphy; T Walsh, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Blanchfield, R Reid, M Carey; P Deegan, C Kenny; J Donnelly, TJ Reid, T Phelan; E Cody, B Ryan, M Keoghan.
Subs: C Fogarty for Phelan (h/t), W Walsh for Keoghan (62), O Wall for Ryan (72), H Shine for Kenny (73).
Wexford: M Fanning; M O’Hanlon, L Ryan, S Reck; C Foley, D Reck, E Ryan; C Hearne, R Lawlor; R O’Connor, L Og McGovern, C Dunbar; C Byrne, L Chin, C McDonald.
Subs: S Donohoe for O’Hanlon (45-47 blood), K Foley for Lawlor (52), J O’Connor for Dunbar (56), C McGuckin for McGovern (60).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
SHERRY SAYS…
Holy God, that game had everything. Great scores, big hits, battles all over the park, legends on both sides plying their trade. As a result of the win, Kilkenny progressed to meet Dublin next weekend in this season’s Leinster Final. Yes, it won’t be Henry vs the Cats in this year’s decider. We’ll look ahead to that one next week.
Keith Rossiter’s men started very well in UPMC Nowlan Park, played some lovely hurling, and no side will fancy meeting Wexford in the championship this summer. To the credit of the Kilkenny defenders, they sorted themselves out and did a decent job on the opposition’s danger men, Lee Chin, Conor McDonald and Cian Byrne.
The Cats had great performances from many, but big credit to TJ, 1-13, top man, top Cat. Captain Paddy Deegan led his troops well and hit nice scores from play, as did Billy Ryan, who was full of energy. David Blanchfield is growing with every game while Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler are All-Star defenders. A brief cameo from the returning Walter Walsh bodes well as does Adrian Mullen’s availability. Regroup, rest up and prepare for another battle with the Dubs, which will no doubt provide more drama in the quest for Bob.
