Kilkenny pushed to wire

Leinster SHC final/Kilkenny 0-22 Wexford 1016: A week ago we all had reason to be grateful to Tipperary for a rousing second-half comeback that saved the Munster final from disappointment but the suspicion nagged that Cork had somehow tuned out at half-time. Yesterday, however, there were no such reservations about Wexford's hugely heartening performance that pushed this year's Guinness Leinster hurling final all the way to the wire.

Champions can virtually never have gone into a final ranked at such long odds as Wexford were. There had been some suggestions that the county was irritated at the virtual dismissal of their achievements a year previously, but confidence at home didn't appear to be high either and over 10,000 fewer than at last year's final were in attendance.

Wexford may have lost but it was by the width of one score after a splendid performance that should send them into the All-Ireland quarter-finals in an upbeat humour.

Kilkenny were more than happy to get their paws on the trophy and although they were clearly deserving winners, they will also have reason to thank their vanquished opponents for the quality of the examination.

For a long period in the first half the favourites were under real pressure and struggling to cope. Their defence was being made to look cumbersome and off the pace while their attack struggled to get any traction in the face of busy and determined defensive work.

By the 21st minute the margin was seven points, 1-7 to 0-3, in Wexford's favour and they were shooting the lights out. That seventh point came from Eoin Quigley - a glorious strike off the hurl from halfway - and meant that the entire attack had scored. It also represented a high water mark because Kilkenny reeled off seven unanswered points to draw level just before the break.

During half-time, Wexford's exhilarating display hadn't really thinned the ranks of pessimism. With the raging favourites now having pulled up alongside, the consensus view was that by the full-time whistle the champions would be reduced to a forlorn purple and gold dot in the rear-view mirror.

But Séamus Murphy's side refused to die and even stretched out again for a three-point lead 10 minutes into the second half. Eventually Kilkenny's superiority broke the challenge but there was still no procession. Damien Fitzhenry made two fine saves to keep his goal intact and inspired Wexford to close within a point. Although it never got closer than that, there were a couple of good opportunities that went for nothing.

It was strange to see the pace and energy that had underpinned the champions' shock win over the same opposition 13 months ago creating such havoc once again in the Kilkenny rearguard. Peter Barry spoke afterwards of his disbelief at the early scoreboard, which after 10 minutes read 0-4 to no score.

Barry and his colleagues were being buzzed and harassed and pressurised into haphazard clearances. They seemed leaden footed as their nimble opponents checked and skipped through the all-too-easily-opened fissures. Best of the initial four-point salvo came from captain Michael Jacob, who struck a fine point from the right wing.

At the other end the story was pretty similar. Wexford won ball and cleared it briskly. Doc O'Connor kept Henry Shefflin scoreless from play, Diarmuid Lyng linked well on the left with Keith Rossiter, who had a stormer and was in just the right spot to clear a shot for goal from Shefflin. It was a rare moment of incision and for the rest of the first quarter two pointed frees was the extent of it for Shefflin and his team.

The opening phase yielded a great goal for Wexford in the 13th minute. An error by James Ryall allowed Mitch Jordan cut through the cover and lay off to Des Mythen, whose finish was calm and accurate for a lead of 1-4 to 0-1.

Kilkenny's recovery started in the half backs, who slowly reined in their kinetic opponents, and with Derek Lyng and Tommy Walsh, who had been plugging away even during the crisis, lifting the team's efforts, the scores began to flow. Walsh had a great match. Ironically for someone whose return to the attack had been so proclaimed he spent a lot of time covering back.

As the texture of the match changed he was able to switch his energies up the field and after a move to centrefield in the second half he was even more dominant, finishing the day with four points from play and his odometer flying around for at least the second time.

Eoin Larkin reeled off three points in the first half as part of the drive for parity before fading after the break.

Wexford were beginning to shoot frustrating wides and miss the odd critical ball at the back. Adrian Fenlon sustained an ankle injury that forced his half-time withdrawal and limited him at the end of the first 35 minutes. Still, but for a questionable advantage call by referee Séamus Roche, they might have gone in two up instead of level after Shefflin's injury-time free.

Having kept pace with Kilkenny for the first four points, Wexford surged with points from replacement Redmond Barry, the ever lively Rory McCarthy and Mythen.

By then Kilkenny had optimised their structure and intensified the pressure. Richie Power left the first of what should be many significant impressions at this level with three points and a confident display.

Replacements appeared. Michael Kavanagh came in for Ryall and Eddie Brennan worked frenetically and clipped two points. Eoin McCormack nearly had two goals - O'Connor's head blocking one and the other squeezing wide.

A late free from the impeccable - no wides all afternoon - Rory Jacob nearly caught Kilkenny at the very end but this year it wasn't to be.

KILKENNY: 1. J McGarry; 2. J Tyrrell, 3. N Hickey, 4. J Ryall; 5. R Mullally (0-1), 6. P Barry, 7. JJ Delaney; 8. B Barry, 9. D Lyng; 10. M Comerford, 11. E Larkin (0-3), 12. T Walsh (0-4); 13. R Power (0-3), 14. C Phelan (0-1), 15. H Shefflin (0-8, seven frees, one 65). Subs: 23. E McCormack for Phelan (40 mins), 22. E Brennan (0-2) for B Barry (45 mins), 17. M Kavanagh for Ryall (47 mins), 21. J Hoyne for Larkin (69 mins).

WEXFORD: 1. D Fitzhenry; 4. D O'Connor, 3. D Ryan, 2. K Rossiter; 5. M Travers, 6. D Ruth (0-1), 7. D Lyng; 8. A Fenlon, 9. R McCarthy (0-2); 10. P Carley (0-1), 11. E Quigley (0-2), 12. D Mythen (1-1); 13. M Jacob (0-1), 14. M Jordan (0-2), 15. R Jacob (0-5, all frees). Subs: 20. R Barry (0-1) for Fenlon (half-time), 19. T Mahon for Carley (60 mins), 23. B Lambert for M Jacob (71 mins).

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).

Attendance: 35,010.