Football

Wexford stun Kilkenny in Leinster hurling; Cork and Kerry set up Munster football final

Lee Chin was one of Wexford's heroes in their win over Kilkenny
Lee Chin was one of Wexford's heroes in their win over Kilkenny Lee Chin was one of Wexford's heroes in their win over Kilkenny

Leinster SHC semi-final: Wexford 1-20 Kilkenny 3-11

DAVID Redmond’s second-half goal proved the difference between the two sides as the Yellowbellies ended Kilkenny’s drive for a Leinster four in-a-row on Saturday evening.

For Davy Fitzgerald’s rejuvenated Wexford, it means a first Leinster final appearance since 2008 and the opportunity to claim a first provincial title since 2004.

As always, Kilkenny fought to the very end in Wexford Park, but the decision by Brian Cody to start both Pádraig Walsh and Ger Aylward backfired as both looked ring-rusty and out of sorts following their respective injuries.

Despite an early converted penalty by the Cats, Wexford held a 0-12 to 1-5 half-time advantage after they capitalised on some slack Kilkenny finishing. And when Redmond (inset) hit the back of the net after a goalmouth scramble early in the second-half, the shock looked well and truly on for the home side.

But back came Kilkenny with two majors of their own – Colin Fennelly scoring from a long-range punt and TJ Reid converting another penalty.

While previous Wexford sides may crumpled under the pressure, the class of 2017 seem made of different stuff and late points from Lee Chin, Shane Tompkins and Matthew O’Hanlon helped them home.

“I knew when we got hit with a couple of goals, it was going to take a certain moment to really get everyone going again.

“Luckily, Mark Fanning pucked the ball down my way and I caught it and put it over the bar,” said an ecstatic Chin afterwards.

“Another day it could have been somebody else, there’s a lot of leaders in this team. There’s an element [of leadership] that’s needed every day. Look, today it was me and, the next day, it could be another guy.”

Wexford will play the winners of this weekend’s second semi-final between Galway and Offaly.

Munster SFC semi-final: Clare 1-12 Kerry 1-18

KERRY will play Cork in the Munster football final after they saw off a dogged Clare side in Ennis yesterday.

The Kingdom had Donnchadh Walsh sent-off in the first half, while David Tubridy converted a penalty for the Banner to allow them to go in level at half-time. However, Kerry upped their game in the second half with Paul Geaney and James O’Donoghue pulling the strings. A flurry of points from O’Donoghue, Stephen O’Brien, Anthony Maher and Shane Enright put Kerry in front and they never looked back.

O’Brien, who impressed after being introduced at half-time, netted Kerry’s goal three minutes from full-time.

Munster SFC semi-final: Cork 1-10 Tipperary 1-9

THERE was late drama at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday as a 69th minute Conor Sweeney goal looked to have put Tipperary into the Munster football final. But, barely a minute later, Luke Connolly replied in equally emphatic fashion for Cork to break Premier county hearts and put the Rebels into the provincial decider.

Former Antrim star James Loughrey played a key role in Cork’s reprieve as himself and subs Michael Hurley and Mark Collins kept their heads to set Connolly up for a palmed finish to the back of the Tipperary net.

Peader Healy’s Rebels registered just a single point in the first-half, hitting nine wides, and only Tipperary’s own wayward finishing kept Cork in the game at the halfway mark. Neither did it help Tipp that their talisman Michael Quinlivan was forced off through injury.

Within minutes of the resumption, Tipperary were five to the good, with Sweeney converting two frees. However, captain Paul Kerrigan, Connolly, Collins and Barry O’Driscoll put Cork back in touch before that nailbiting finish.

Leinster SFC quarter-final: Offaly 0-10 Westmeath 0-10

OFFALY and Westmeath will go again at Cusack Park, Mullingar this Saturday after this draw yesterday.

The sides were level at 0-6 apiece at half-time at O’Connor Park as Offaly kept in touch despite battling against a fierce wind in the first period.

Despite hitting the front four times in the second-half, the Faithful county could never shake Westmeath off and when Michael Brazil was sent-off with 13 minutes to play, Offaly faced a struggle to get anything out of the game.

Still, in spite of their man advantage in the closing stages, it was Westmeath who had to dig deep to salvage a draw, with John Heslin pointing a free to level matters in the third minute of time added on.

The winners of the replay will face Dublin in the Leinster semi-final with the losers facing a home clash against Cavan.