Sean O’Brien’s 13 points key as Wexford hold off Kilkenny fightback
Leinster MHC: Wexford 2-20 Kilkenny 1-20
A general view of Chadwicks Wexford Park. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Two Darren Rossiter goals and a superb display of shooting from Seán O’Brien steered Wexford to a rousing win over Kilkenny in an entertaining Electric Ireland Leinster Minor hurling championship Tier 1 clash in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday.
Having trounced Galway by 19 points in their provincial opener last week, most observers would have expected the Cats to continue their winning ways but, helped by 13 points from the excellent O’Brien, the hosts withstood a Kilkenny fightback to get over the line.
Wexford began their campaign with a 0-18 to 0-15 defeat to Dublin in Parnell Park, but they looked to have put that behind them as the held a 1-13 to 0-7 interval lead, albeit with the aid of the breeze.
The goal arrived in the 21st minute when Ryan Donohoe sent a delivery into the danger zone, and the loose ball was gathered by Rossiter, who buried to the net.
With the talented Jake Mullen doing much of the damage the visitors began to claw their way began into the contest after the break, but they were rocked back on their heels in the 38th minute when O’Brien made a beeline for goal and, when his shot was saved by goalkeeper Pádraig Joyce, Rossiter was on hand to finish to the net to make it 2-14 to 0-10.
Niall Bergin’s side continued to battle back, however, and they got the boost they needed in the 50th minute when Kevin Buggy burst through and buried the ball past Paddy Quigley (2-16 to 1-15).
All the momentum appeared to be with Niall Bergin’s side, but Wexford managed to steady the ship and, although the visitors got back to within two points on four occasions, they couldn’t bridge the gap as Wexford held firm for a sweet victory.
SCORERS – Wexford: Seán O’Brien 0-13 (8f, 1 65); Darren Rossiter (2-0); Seán Hyland, Conor Fanning, Jack Nolan, Jack Dunne, Colin Carley, Ciarán Gethings (1f), Oisin Moore (1 line ball), 0-1 each. Kilkenny: Jake Mullen 0-9 (6f); Conor Holohan 0-5; Kevin Buggy 1-1; Eoghan Cahill 0-2; Ollie O’Donovan, Jason Cody, Eoin Brennan 0-1 each.
WEXFORD: P Quigley; I Reilly, E Hughes, C Gethings; R Donohoe, J Nolan, C Sinnott; S Hyland, O Moore; C Carley, J Dunne, C Fanning; S O’Brien, K O’Mahony, D Rossiter. Subs: B Murphy for O’Mahony (temp., 41-44), P Wickham for Hyland (53), B Murphy for Dunne (54), J Gethings for O’Mahony (56), R Wickham for Rossiter (60), B Harpur for Moore (61).
KILKENNY: P Joyce; B Brennan, L Phelan, O Henderson; M Rohan, J Dollard, D Barcoe; A Clifford, R Doherty; K Buggy, E Cahill, J Mullen; P Lacey, C Holohan, B McDermott. Subs: J Cody for Lacey (7), E Brennan for Dollard (9), O’Donovan for Clifford (41), L Raggett for Phelan (54), J Connery for McDermott (61).
REF: J McGrath (Westmeath).
