How time moves on, when Wexford last won at this grade our team featured lads who would go on to be household names, Darren Stamp, Red Barry,Rory Jacob, Barry Lambert, Michael Jacob, Gizzy Lyng. Now 11 years later and this time we face Kilkenny, below is a preview of this exciting clash.
Wexford welcome Kilkenny to Wexford Park in Wednesday night’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Hurling U-21 Final. Both teams have built up a strong rivalry at this level having clashed twice previously over the past two years with both tasting success and defeat. The match will throw in at 7.30pm, with the home side looking to win their first provincial title since 2002.
Last week, senior provincial success has eluded the Cats so the pressure is on their U-21s to win provincial honours. The match offers senior stars Ger Aylward, Padraig Walsh and Bord Gáis Energy Ambassador Cillian Buckley a chance to get back to winning ways after the defeat to Dublin.
Kilkenny have already experienced championship victory this year as they overcame a strong challenge from Offaly in the semi-final in O’Connor Park by six points. They will once again look to full forward Kevin Kelly and dead ball specialist John Power to shoot them to their seventh Leinster championship in ten years.
Wexford on the other hand will hold no fear ahead of Wednesday night’s clash after two hard fought victories over Westmeath and Carlow respectively in previous rounds. JJ Doyle’s charges went into both games as favourites and did what they had to do against two well drilled sides.
Both Kilkenny and Wexford will come into the game happy with their progress to date and an intriguing battle is in store with the home side looking for a first title in 11 years and the Cats looking to claim back-to-back titles.
The throw in for the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Hurling U-21 Final is at 7.30pm on Wednesday at Wexford Park. The match will be broadcast live on TG4, viewers will be able to interact and vote for their choice for Man of the Match with the use of the #LaochBGE hashtag.
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling
U-21 All-Ireland Championship 2013 Results & Fixtures
Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Hurling U-21 Championship:
1. Quarter Final 2 June 2013 Wexford 1-15 Westmeath 1-10
2. Quarter Final 5 June 2013 Laois 2-15 Offaly 2-16
3. Quarter Final 11 June 2013 Dublin 1-11 Carlow 1-13
4. Semi-Final 26 June 2013 Carlow 0-9 Wexford 1-12
5. Semi-Final 26 June 2013 Offaly 1-13 Kilkenny 1-19
Leinster Final 10 July 2013 Wexford v Kilkenny (LIVE TG4)
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship:
Semi-Final 24 August 2013 Galway v Munster (LIVE TG4)
Semi-Final 24 August 2013 Leinster v Ulster (LIVE TG4)
‘B’ Final 14 September 2013 Venue TBC (LIVE TG4)
‘A’ Final 14 September 2013 Venue TBC (LIVE TG4)
