Despite a promising first-half, the Wexford minor hurlers succumbed to a slicker Kilkenny outfit in Saturday afternoon’s second-round Leinster minor hurling championship Tier 1 group-stage clash at sunny Nowlan Park.
Following last week’s win over Laois, the purple-and-gold recovered from a 0-5 to 0-1 deficit after five minutes to tie on 0-9 apiece at half-time with the Cats after an opening-half during which Paddy Whitty and Jack Kehoe were unlucky with goaling chances.
Owen Whitty of St. James’ pointed Wexford back in front within a minute of the re-start (0-10 to 0-9). But Kilkenny then reeled-off a decisive 2-6 without reply to forge clear by 2-15 to 0-10 after 47 minutes.
Substitute David Cantwell pegged back a tidy goal on 60 minutes after collecting a free from Cian Molloy, before Kilkenny signed-off with a second personal goal from Eoin Guilfoyle to cement back-to-back wins.
Wexford, meanwhile, have one win to their credit heading into next Saturday’s closing group-stage fixture away to Dublin, who recovered from their opening weekend setback against Kilkenny to crush Laois on Saturday (2-21 to 0-7).
Wexford – Darragh Hayes (Oulart-The Ballagh); Feidhlim Roche (Blackwater), Rory Scallan (Ferns St. Aidan’s, joint-capt.), Noel Rowsome (Monageer-Boolavogue); Billy Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh), David Codd (St. Martin’s), Éanna Doyle (Cloughbawn); Cian Molloy (Naomh Éanna), Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers, 0-1); Owen Whitty (St. James’, 0-1), Thomas Murphy (Blackwater, 0-1), Jack Kehoe (Horeswood); Paddy Whitty (Cloughbawn), Jack Kirwan (Rapparees, 0-1), AJ Redmond (Rathnure, 0-8, 6 frees, 1 ’65).
Subs: David Cantwell (St. Martin’s, 1-0) for Jack Kehoe (38); Zac Firman (St. Martin’s, joint-capt.) for Owen Whitty (40); Patrick O’Connor (Blackwater) for AJ Redmond (57); Shane Walsh (St. Martin’s) for Billy Dunne (58); also, Cian Byrne (St. Mary’s-Rosslare), Dylan O’Neill (Shelmaliers), Eamonn Doran (Craanford), Cian Browne (Naomh Éanna), Kevin Breen (St. Anne’s).
Photos Brian Cantwell