Wexford tame the Cats to prolong their season

Wexford conjured up the type of incredible performance that only they can when they saved their Leinster senior hurling championship season in wonderful fashion after a four-point win over Kilkenny at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday evening.

The Slaneysiders may have been shaken when drawing with Westmeath last weekend, but they produced a performance for the ages to defeat great rivals Kilkenny to deservedly prolong their season.

Because of the way the results ran, Kilkenny escaped into the Leinster final against Galway, while Wexford went into the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-finals where they will face one of the Joe McDonagh finalists.

Wexford have produced many rattling showings down through the years, but this first championship win in seven battles in Nowlan Park compared with the best. Their defence was wonderful during the second half when Diarmuid O'Keeffe was majestic as the free man in front of goal. Further afield Lee Chin was an inspiring leader and deadly finisher.

Wexford just refused to yield ground against the Cats, who opted for Route 1 and showered high ball down in front of the visitors goal. O’Keeffe, Liam Ryan and company simply mopped it up.

And the Wexford bench was vital too, with subs Connal Flood, Mikie Dwyer and Cathal Dunbar all registering a white flag each.

The 13,565 crowd knew the battle was wide open when Wexford carried a three point lead into the second half (1-11 to 1-08) after playing with the wind. The home side went at them and picked off early points through Walter Walsh and TJ Reid (free).

Lee Chin halted the flow of scores before Rory O'Connor hit the target from distance. The defiant Wexford mood was set.

Sure, Kilkenny caught up in the 52nd minute when Reid punished a foul on Walsh,