20th Dec 2020
Kilkenny claimed a Leinster Semi-Final win over Wexford on Sunday to secure yet another Leinster Final appearance. Kilkenny started the brightest and were 0-5 – 0-1 ahead after the first ten minutes but Wexford clawed their way back to lead 0-12 – 0-6 at half-time. After the break Kilkenny began to re-assert themselves and slowly but surely through hard work and grit regained the lead and were never to relinquish it, running out 0-23 to 1-14 winners. Offaly are next up for Kilkenny in the Leinster final which is due to be played on Jan 2nd/3rd.
See Match Report below (Robert Cribbin, Kilkenny People)
Kilkenny Minors finish strong to overcome Wexford and book Leinster Final spot
KILKENNY 0-23 WEXFORD 1-14
20 Dec 2020
After trailing for a lot of the contest the Cats overturned their opponents in the final quarter and were relatively comfortable winners by the final whistle with Billy Drennan, Eoin O’Brien, Killian Doyle and Gearoid Dunne putting in big performances.
In truth it was a dominant second half display that lay the platform as the Cats outscored Wexford 0-17 to 1-2.
In a repeat of last year’s Leinster Minor Hurling Final it was Kilkenny who started the better and with Billy Drennan hitting four early points Richie Mulrooney’s men had a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.
Drennan added another free for the Cats in response but Wexford were much the happier at the end of the opening 30 minutes when Ian Byrne knocked over a trio of efforts to give his side a double scores advantage at the break.
Kilkenny were back to within four points in the early minutes of the second period after points from Drennan and Denis Walsh.
A 35th minute Luke Murphy goal rocked Kilkenny briefly to put them seven points in arrears but they were on top for the rest of the game and after they retook the lead inside the final quarter through Drennan, it was all plain sailing as the Noresiders won out on a 0-23 to 1-14 scoreline.
Kilkenny : Brian Minogue (Dicksboro); Mark Donnelly (St.Lachtains), Niall Rowe (Dicksboro), Zach Bay Hammond (Thomastown), Billy Reid (Glenmore), Liam Lacey (Kilmacow), Cathal Beirne 0-1 (Glenmore), Eoin O’Brien (Rower-Inistioge), Killian Doyle 0-2 (Emeralds), Billy Drennan 0-14 (0-9fs) (Galmoy), Timmy Clifford 0-1 (Dicksboro), Denis Walsh 0-2 (Dunnamaggin), Harry Shine 0-1 (Dicksboro), Gearoid Dunne 0-2 (Tullaroan), Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin).
Subs: Killian Carey (Young Irelands) for Fitzpatrick 39 mins.
Wexford; Regan Tracey; Cian O’Tuama, Robert Hillis, Darragh Kehoe, Liam Schockman, Connor Foley 0-2, Darragh Carley, Oisin Pepper 0-1, Diarmuid O’Leary, Luke Murphy 1-1, Cian Byrne 0-7 (0-4fs), JJ Twamley, Luke Roche, Shamey O’Hagan 0-1, Corey Byrne Dunbar 0-2.
