They gave their all, several bodies clearly exhausted as cramp took hold and the gas ran dry during the second period of extra-time as Wexford ultimately succumbed to Kilkenny in an absorbing Leinster Senior hurling championship semi-final thriller at Croke Park on Saturday evening.
Those privileged to be amongst the approximate 8,000 crowd – the largest attendance to-date at an Irish sporting fixture during pandemic times – were treated to the greatest spectacle of the 2021 hurling championship so far, with the neighbours level 13 times before the second period of extra-time yielded a decisive burst of 1-6 without reply for Kilkenny.
Wexford led 0-7 to 0-4 after 13 minutes, but only after Kilkenny corner-forward Eoin Cody had twice threatened for goals – one effort flying off the butt of the far post, while Kevin Foley thwarted another.
Wexford maintained the whip-hand at the first hydration-break (0-8 to 0-6) before Kilkenny turned the tables by 0-11 to 0-10.
Wexford remained strong, and Lee Chin made a threatening burst on the Hill 16-end goal only to be upended at the expense of a free which Paul Morris converted, while Conor McDonald and Rory O’Connor further rejuvenated Model County ambitions by the 31st-minute (0-13 to 0-11).
Kilkenny regained the initiative by half-time (0-15 to 0-14) – the Wexford net having enjoyed yet another let off in the 33rd-minute when Eoin Cody fed Martin Keoghan, who cut in from the left to force Mark Fanning into a good save before Fanning mopped up the spillage.
Kilkenny resumed with the opening three points of the second-half. But Wexford levelled on 0-18 apiece after 51 minutes, through Liam Óg McGovern, Lee Chin (2 frees) and Shaun Murphy.
Murphy and Chin made further submissions as Wexford’s latest drive soared to a 0-21 to 0-18 lead on 55 minutes.
The ebbs and flows just wouldn’t let up: Kilkenny striking back in front (0-23 to 0-21); sub David Dunne getting on the end of a long Mark Fanning puck-out to net a 1-21 to 0-23 lead after 60 minutes; Chin and Fanning (free) extending that gap to 1-23 to 0-23; TJ Reid pegging back two frees before Eoin Cody knocked on the door again to make it third time lucky with a 68th-minute lead-goal (1-27 to 1-24).
Wexford’s refusal to yield brought a couple more Lee Chin frees, before, whether or not extra-time would in fact be required all came down to the Hawk-Eye score-detection system, after a Liam Ryan boomer seemed to be prevented from bisecting the uprights by the ‘keeper before Conor McDonald doubled the ball to the net.
Unfortunately for Wexford, Hawk-Eye deemed Ryan’s strike to have been a point, and with that, we settled in for extra-time (1-27 apiece).
EXTRA-TIME
Wexford couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the extra 20 minutes, Lee Chin effecting a superb interception before feeding Connal Flood as the defender burst through on goal to force a penalty, with ‘keeper Eoin Murphy sin-binned for his troubles and Mark Fanning netting past sub ‘keeper Darren Brennan (2-27 to 1-27).
Kilkenny responded to tie on 1-31 to 2-28, before a twelfth Lee Chin free edged Wexford back in front at the change-of-ends (2-29 to 1-31).
Thereafter Kilkenny were far more effective despite Wexford’s courageous investment, and a charge from the Hogan Stand flank by Walter Walsh produced a killer goal to put Kilkenny a safe six points clear in the 86th-minute (2-35 to 2-29).
Wexford were twice denied goals during that period – Rory O’Connor seeking to flick a pin-point delivery from the Hogan Stand side by Shaun Murphy past the ‘keeper, while a late consolation bid yielded a free-out for Kilkenny as they claimed a provincial final ticket against Dublin.
Wexford, meanwhile, must focus on getting the tanks completely refreshed after emptying everything into a performance which firmly parks the dejected memories of last year’s abject championship efforts and offers definite hope for an extended run in 2021.
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy (0-1 free); Tommy Walsh (0-1), Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan; Darragh Corcoran, Pádraig Walsh, Conor Browne; Richie Reid (0-2), Richie Leahy; Adrian Mullen (0-1), Martin Keoghan (0-1), Alan Murphy (0-1); Eoin Cody (1-5), TJ Reid (0-16, 11 frees, 1 ‘65), Billy Ryan (0-1).
Subs: Conor Fogarty (0-1) for Leahy (HT); James Maher (0-2) for Corcoran (HT); John Donnelly (0-1) for Ryan (45); Walter Walsh (1-1) for Reid (53); James Bergin (0-2) for A. Murphy (64). Extra-time: Darren Brennan for E. Murphy, sin-bin (72); Michael Carey (0-1) for Fogarty (73); Cillian Buckley for Browne (73); Brennan for Bergin (HT); Bergin for Brennan (80); Ryan for Keoghan (80).
Wexford: Mark Fanning (1-1, 0-1 free, 1-0 penalty); Shane Reck, Matthew O’Hanlon (0-1), Simon Donohoe; Shaun Murphy (0-2), Liam Ryan (0-1), Gavin Bailey; Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-1), Liam Óg McGovern (0-2); Rory O’Connor (0-3), Lee Chin (0-14, 12 frees), Kevin Foley; Mikie Dwyer, Conor McDonald (0-2), Paul Morris (0-1 free).
Subs: Jack O’Connor (0-1) for Morris (48); David Dunne (1-0) for Dwyer (59); Connal Flood for O’Keeffe (70+1); Conor Firman for Murphy (70+3). Extra-time: Diarmuid O’Keeffe for McGovern (77); Shaun Murphy for Bailey (80); Cathal Dunbar for Chin (86); Conor Hearne for O’Keeffe (88).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
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