A nine-goal thriller in Chadwicks Wexford Park at the weekend saw the Wexford hold onto Championship status for 2024 after defeating Kilkenny 4-23 to 5-18
Wexford knew going into this game that if Kilkenny came away with a victory in the game they were starting at relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2024. Four of those nine goals came in the first half The Model County was behind 2-8 to 0-16 with twenty-three minutes on the clock but a purple spell saw them outscore the visitors 2-5 to 0-2 in the last ten minutes of the first half as Wexford went into the break with a one-point lead 2-11 to 2-10.
It was nip and tuck for the first four minutes of the second half until Liam รg McGovern struck for Wexford’s third goal, McGovern then scored his second goal a few minutes later to leave Wexford leading by seven points 4-13 to 2-12. Eoin Cody reduced the deficit with a goal in the 50th minute, and Kilkenny was only a point behind when Tom Phelan struck for a goal, 4-17 to 4-16. Kilkenny took the lead when Eoin Cody got in for their fifth goal of the game with sixty-one minutes on the clock. Wexford fighting to keep their status got a second wind and rattled off some very nice scores and by the time the final whistle was blown, it was a victory for Wexford.
With Dublin and Galway drawing in the other game, it now means that Kilkenny will play Galway in the Leinster Final on July 11th in Croke Park
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng spoke to KCLR after the game:
“We obviously had a great start, as the game went on Wexford got a penalty that brought them back into the game, we were probably disappointed at that stage to be going in a point down, there was a strong breeze there and we still felt comfortable in what we were doing, the three lads going off in the first half didn’t help things and disrupted things a little bit, still we have a strong panel and that’s what they’re there for. It’ll take a little bit of looking back at now and learn from it and get ready for two weeks time”
“That’s what the panel is for, we’ll have to see how the injuries are over the next few days and we’ll get a better understanding of them, hopefully, they won’t be too bad”
Asked about Carlows Joe McDonagh Cup victory
“It was a fantastic game, first of all, I thought Carlow erre outstanding from start to finish and delighted that their neighbors as well and they’re taking part in the Kilkenny leagues for the last number of years, they hugely deserve it, a massive win for Carlow, they were the outstanding team and they timed it well and they were strong all through the competition, so full credit it to them”
