Kilkenny's fast start and Martin Keoghan brace sinks Wexford

Martin Keoghan netted a first-half brace to power Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 0-15 derby win over Wexford in their Allianz league Division 1A clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Those blows from the Tullaroan man opened up a 2-10 to 0-04 chasm at half-time, before Wexford made a solid fist of it in the second half.

The result hoists Derek Lyng’s Black and Amber, last year’s beaten league finalists, back into the qualification picture.

It also heaps pressure upon relegation-threatened Wexford – and Keith Rossiter’s injury-ravaged charges face two daunting road trips to Clare and Limerick.

Kilkenny pinged four points without reply inside as many minutes, as Billy Ryan, centre-back Mikey Carey, Eoin Cody (free) and Cian Kenny established an early foothold.

Wexford eventually responded with a 10th-minute free from Cian Byrne after a late hit on Connal Flood.

But Kilkenny almost snapped back with a goal – Billy Ryan fetching the resulting puck-out only to be denied by the woodwork, before Cats pressure translated into a second converted free by Cody, and midfielder Jordan Molloy made it 0-06 to 0-01 after 14 minutes.

The Wexford goal came under further threat when a misplaced pass saw Cian Kenny feed Billy Ryan only for Ryan to be closed down as he looked to pull the trigger.

Kilkenny hearts skipped a beat on 21 minutes when keeper Aidan Tallis dropped a free from distance by Damien Reck in the danger zone only to make a smart recovery.

The visitors’ threat eventually yielded a major on 23 minutes when Paddy Deegan’s clearance found Stephen Donnelly, who offloaded to Martin Keoghan to continue his excellent start to the season with a venomous finish to the net to make it 1-06 to 0-01.

More clinical finishing from Kilkenny's Mossy Keoghan as he