Kilkenny's reign in Leinster goes on and on. Yesterday at Croke Park they won their fifth successive provincial title despite tenacious resistance from Wexford. That run of success equals the record set by the county from 1971-75. It will be of little consolation to Wexford that they provided the champions with the stiffest test of those five finals because they had a good view of victory towards the end of the match.
It was an exciting match with the bonus of the result being in doubt right up until the final whistle. In recent times the fixture has left the edge of the seats unworn but yesterday Wexford stayed in touch throughout.
The champions held on for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they were more composed in taking their scores and secondly, they defended impressively when the screw was turned. For example, at the start of the second half when Wexford were exerting pressure to try to close the two-point half-time deficit, 0-8 to 0-10, there was a lack of composure.
In the opening three minutes they equalled their first-half total of wides by shooting three and adding another for good measure. On Kilkenny's first attack, a stupid foul presented Derek Lyng with a free and he calmly pointed to extend Kilkenny's lead.
At the back Kilkenny coped well with Wexford's various efforts. Noel Hickey was outstanding in the way he dismantled the potentially awkward challenge of Larry O'Gorman. The first two bombs dropped in on the Wexford captain were adeptly fielded by his marker and the realisation began to sink in that the Nicky Rackard-Tony Doran route would not lead to a Leinster title.
O'Gorman was given a sabbatical in the corner to try to re-ignite himself but on his return to the square, he was still unable to make an impact. Ironically after his substitution six minutes from the end, Wexford contrived a few high-ball chances that Nicky Lambert couldn't quite control. Maybe O'Gorman might have done better but to be fair, there hadn't been much signs of it earlier.
Philip Larkin was sharp in tidying up and if he allowed Barry Lambert a bit too much room at the start of the second half, no damage was done. And Larkin was seen at his best shortly afterwards, intercepting a ball on dangerously open ground with the speedy Rory McCarthy rushing in and clearing it.
In front Peter Barry was excellent throughout and Larry Murphy was forced to wander for ball. He didn't do badly but Barry dominated. Wexford sorely missed Adrian Fenlon who had to pull out just before the throw-in because of a hamstring injury that may keep him out of next week's qualifier against Clare.
Wexford made changes before the start with Rory Mallon moving to centrefield, Doc O'Connor back to the corner and Darren Stamp to the wing. McCarthy and MJ Furlong also switched from centrefield to wing. The defensive realignment was to perform well but Kilkenny had enough range to find scores elsewhere.
Charlie Carter, whose shots to scores ratio in the Leinster championship has been extraordinary, gave notice that this wasn't to be his day when firing wide early in the first half. It was the first scoring attempt he had sent wide in two provincial championships. Otherwise he was well marked by Colm Kehoe and eventually replaced in the second half.
Top of the priority list for Wexford must have been how to contain Henry Shefflin. Declan Ruth had a great afternoon on Kilkenny's most feared marksman, shadowing him closely and still finding time to play a good bit himself. O'Connor was the team's other most prominent back and he hurled a skip-load of ball.
But - obviously - Kilkenny got scores somewhere and it was in this regard that they were superior to Wexford. Once again Paul Codd got nearly all his team's score, with a massive 13-point haul. Once again it was overwhelmingly comprised of dead-ball strikes - 11. Codd's two points from play made him the only member of his team to score more than once from play.
The champions were able to draw on wider sources.
Even Shefflin and Eddie Brennan - tightly marked as they were - slipped over two points (Shefflin's a pleasing pair struck with economy from the right and left wings in quick succession in the 52nd and 53rd minute) each from play. Brian McEvoy had one of his scoring days, using his pace and the sometimes inattentive marking of Stamp to shoot four from play, and Richie Mullally found time to get up from wing back to score two himself.
Although he didn't feature on the score sheet Martin Comerford had a memorable debut Leinster final. He won the first two high balls against Darragh Ryan and made himself awkward throughout. In the 32nd minute he won a dropping sideline ball from Andy Comerford and although he was probably disappointed with the shot, it brought a smart save out of Damien Fitzhenry.
It wasn't the last time the Wexford goalkeeper was called on and in the 49th minute a slicing solo run by Lyng carried him right in on goal. But he lost control at the very end and Fitzhenry had the chance to make a brave save which left him stretched him out for a minute or so.
James McGarry had his moment as well when Barry Lambert released Mitch Jordan for an attempt on goal, which the Kilkenny goalkeeper somehow managed to put out for a 65. It was duly pointed by Codd whose dead-ball striking kept a lifeline floating for Wexford.
From the moment they edged ahead in the 25th minute, Kilkenny preserved their lead but there was never much in it with four points going into the final quarter the high-water mark.
Wexford never relented but they could never close the gap. With minutes left Liam Dunne was given a red card for a wild swing, which poleaxed Martin Comerford. It cost his team a point and he will miss at least the next two matches.
With the clock running down and Wexford pressing for an equaliser Kilkenny substitute Brian Dowling reprised his league final cameo by striking over a wonderful point from the left wing to leave the winning margin at two.
KILKENNY: 1 J McGarry; 2 M Kavanagh, 3 N Hickey, 4 P Larkin; 5 R Mullally, 6 P Barry, 7 JJ Delaney; 8 D Lyng, 9 A Comerford (capt); 10 J Hoyne, 11 H Shefflin, 12 B McEvoy; 13 E Brennan, 14 M Comerford, 15 C Carter. Subs: 21 S Grehan for Carter (42 mins), 22 A Geoghegan for Comerford (58 mins), 17 S Dowling for Larkin (63 mins), 24 B Dowling for Brennan (65 mins).
Booked: B McEvoy (11 mins), N Hickey (6 mins), R Mullally (23 mins), D Lyng (60 mins).
WEXFORD: 1 D Fitzhenry; 2 C Kehoe, 3 D Ryan, 5 D O'Connor; 8 D Stamp, 6 D Ruth, 7 L Dunne; 4 R Mallon, 10 MJ Furlong; 9 R McCarthy, 22 L Murphy, 12 P Codd; 13 B Lambert, 14. L O'Gorman (capt), 15 M Jordan. Subs: 23 N Lambert for Murphy (58 mins), 30 R Jacob for O'Gorman (64 mins).
Booked: D Stamp (11 mins), D Ryan (62 mins).Sent off: L Dunne (66 mins)
