Kilkenny 4-22

Wexford 2-16 

WHEN IAN BYRNE scored a goal in first-half stoppage time, he made the score 2-10 to 1-12 to Kilkenny and the Wexford Park faithful might well have thought they were in for a tight second period.

TJ Reid raised the green flag himself however within 30 seconds of the restart and from there Brian Cody’s men drove on.

After a season in which Kilkenny failed to make the All-Ireland semi-finals, the Cats made sure everyone was reminded that they haven’t gone away. They looked sharp and clinical throughout.

A good start saw them race into an early lead. Walter Walsh notched 1-3 in the first quarter while Byrne tacked on a series of frees to keep Wexford in the game.

TJ Reid added to Walsh’s first-half goal as he took advantage of Matt O’Hanlon not clearing his lines and he ultimately finished with 3-8.

As Rory Jacob pulled a consolation goal back for the home side, Brian Cody emptied his bench. And what a bench; the five figures who joined the fray for the Noresiders were Michael Fennelly, Brian Hogan, Tommy Walsh, Aidan Fogarty and Henry Shefflin.

Kilkenny will face Galway in the semi-finals while it’s back to the drawing board for Wexford before their championship tilt.

More to follow

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