Kilkenny Secure Third Win In Allianz Hurling League

By Mary Morgan Sun 6th Mar

Kilkenny made it three wins from three games in the Allianz Hurling League following today’s victory over Wexford in Nowlan Park. Goals from TJ Reid and James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick saw them establish a 2-9 to 0-6 interval lead and while Wexford, improved after the break and made Kilkenny work to the finish they never looked like winning the game.

.Kilkenny began the game impressively and the Wexford defence was under pressure from the beginning as Kilkenny began to register a succession of scores. Richie Hogan pointed two frees and Colin Fennelly pointed from play. Kilkenny’s first goal came in the ninth minute when Eoin Larkin played in T.J.Reid who shot firmly into the bottom corner of the Wexford net.

Free-taker Jim Berry got Wexford up and running on the scoreboard and Michael Jacob and Stephen Banville also registered points. But Kilkenny were playing well and secured a slightly fortunate second goal when Wexford goalkeeper Noel Carton pulled on the ball to clear it and James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick got his hurl to it to direct it into the net.

Wexford might have goaled before half time but P.J. Ryan saved a close-in free from Jim Berry. The score at the break was Kilkenny 2-9 Wexford 0-6. P.J. Ryan made a second good save, again from Berry in the second half, a half in which Wexford managed to outscore Kilkenny by 0-11 to 0-7.

But Kilkenny never looked like being overhauled as Eddie Brennan and T.J. Reid, who took over the free-taking duties after Richie Hogan’s departure, pointed them to victory. Kilkenny play Galway in Pearse Stadium in the Fourth Round of the League next weekend.

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; PJ Delaney, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, J Dalton, P Murphy; M. Rice, M. Fennelly; C Fennelly (0-3), TJ Reid (1-3, two frees), E Larkin; J Fitzpatrick (1-2), E Brennan (0-2), R Hogan (0-6, five frees).Subs: P Hartley for Rice (inj 26 mins), E Guinan for Hogan (54 mins).

WEXFORD: N Carton; P Roche, M O’Hanlon, C Kenny; L Prendergast, D Stamp, C Farrell; M Jacob (0-1), D Redmond (0-1), T Waters, H Kehoe, S Banville (0-3); E Martin, G Sinnott, J Berry (0-9, six frees). Subs: E Quigley (0-1) for Farrell (ht), PJ Nolan (0-2) for Waters (45 mins), B Doyle for Martin (54 mins), B Hobbs for Redmond (67 mins).