Kilkenny's young guns step up to keep neighbours down

ON THE second last weekend of the regulation matches in the Church and General NHL, a couple of issues were cleared up. For a start, there appears to be great enthusiasm for Saturday evening fixtures.

The night before last in New Ross was overcast and drizzled with intermittent showers, but 8,500 spectators packed Fitzgerald Park to see Wexford's relegation confirmed while Kilkenny underlined their fine League form by ensuring a place in the knockout stages later in the summer.

Defeat wasn't an unmitigated disaster for the home team who hurled well in patches and launched a determined assault in the closing minutes to try and salvage a point. Although valueless in terms of their League campaign, it would, you feel have greatly perked them up for the remainder of their championship preparations. Larry Murphy, with the last puck of the match, had the chance but his shot drifted left and wide.

"We're going to continue to work hard," said Wexford's manager Rory Kinsella, "we're six weeks from the championship and we're getting there. A win would have been nice, but an improved performance was the most important thing. Other teams are playing in the championship next Sunday and the following Sunday. We've six weeks and six weeks is a long time to keep on 12p of the ground. We'll be there.

Whereas another narrow defeat will depress the county, there were some worthwhile touches. Captain Rod Guiney had to drop out before the throwin and was replaced by Sean Flood, with Eugene Furlong coming in at left corner back.

The old rhythm still isn't back and Adrian Fenlon didn't have one of his most effective matches and in the absence of his precise striking Wexford struggled to spread the ball until the unlikely figure of Gary Laffan - having come to the 40 in a swap with Storey, greatly to the benefit of both players - began to move ball effectively.

"We feel disappointed we didn't win the game, but it was a massive improvement on our last outing" added Kinsella. "We created enough chances to win the game and thought the lads showed great character. We hit the crossbar twice we hit the upright twice and missed a few easy chances."

Wexford did have good chances, but so did Kilkenny in a tight and absorbing match. In fact, the winners narrowly out did the losers in inaccuracy with 12 wides against 11. The posts helped out, most obviously in the 38th minute when it kept out an effort by Martin Storey.

This wooden deliverance was sandwiched between two fine saves by Joe Dermody from Larry Murphy and Storey again. This was not, however, a one way frustration.

Only a minute previously, DJ Carey was put clear on goal by Charlie Carter and yet drilled the ball wide an outcome few people would like to back with even the price of a pint. In addition, Damien Fitzhenry was in top form making good saves himself and frequently demonstrating the safest hands in the business when effortlessly taking a variety of high and dropping ball.

Kilkenny were again impressive. Padraig Farrell at full back, Willie O'Connor beside him and Liam Keoghan stood out at the back. Although Pat O'Neill did well on Storey, his game isn't as expansive as before and he struggled with Laffan who crowned a good display on the 40 by flaking home a last minute goal from 25 metres to leave only a point between the sides at the whistle.

The first half was evenly contested, although Kilkenny's cause was greatly assisted by three handy frees conceded within 30 metres of the goal, all duly converted by Carey. The upshot of this generosity was that the home side reached halftime a point behind, 0-6 to 0-7.

Five minutes after the break, Kilkenny struck for their first goal with Carter cutting in from the right to crack the ball to the net. An unanswered 1-2 from Wexford pushed them surprisingly ahead just when you expected Kilkenny to turn the screw. Storey took the 42nd minute goal after Dempsey's scything run and shot drew an agile block from Dermody.

The match remained balanced until a scoring burst of 1-1 from Can ice Brennan who rounded off a good evening's hurling - both when one on one with the formidable Liam Dunne and when breaking a deal of useful ball - by doubling gloriously on a pass from Andy Comerford for the goal that brought Kilkenny 2-11 to 1-9 ahead in the 56th minute. The gap proved beyond Wexford's feisty response.