Leinster IHC final: Cats comeback stuns Model

July 13, 2016

Kilkenny's Richie Leahy.
©INPHO/Donall Farmer.

It was typical Kilkenny at Wexford Park as the Cats came from six points down to beat Wexford by three, 3-14 to 2-14.

The winners, who will meet Clare in the 2016 All-Ireland IHC final on Saturday, August 6th, outscored the Model County by 1-8 to 0-2 in the last 19 minutes to capture the silverware for the first time since 2013 (and 16th in all).

The hosts led by the minimum margin at the short whistle, 0-10 to 1-6, with Tommy Dwyer firing over five first-half frees for the Model men while centre forward Mark Bergin (1-4) netted the Black & Amber's first-half goal in the 12th minute to make it 1-2 to 0-2.

Two scrappy second-half majors - the first from Nicky Kirwan and the second from full forward Jack Pettit in the 41st minute - helped Liam Dunne's side move six points clear, 2-12 to 2-6, with Billy Ryan registering the Noresiders' second three-pointer in between.

Pat O'Grady's men kept plugging away and bagged four of the next five points before substitute Richie Leahy's goal had them level with eight minutes left, 3-10 to 2-13. The momentum was with the visitors and they also fired four of the last five points to prevail, with eight Kilkenny men getting their names onto the scoresheet.

Jack Langton, Nicky Cleere, John Walsh and Conor Tobin bagged a brace apiece, while Shane Donnelly also pointed and Leahy finished with 1-1.

Kilkenny - K Nolan; E Cody, T Aylward, L Hickey; J Cleere, C Delaney, J McGrath; J Langton (0-2), S Murphy; C Tobin (0-2), M Bergin (1-4, 0-2f), N Cleere (0-2, 1f); S Morrissey, B Ryan (1-0), J Walsh (0-2). Subs: S Donnelly (0-1) for N Cleere, J Brennan for S Murphy, R Leahy (1-1) for S Morrissey, A Duggan for K Nolan, R Hickey for B Ryan.

Wexford - D Hughes; A Maddock, S Murphy, K Sheridan; J Kelly, R Kehoe, J O'Connor; B Dunne, T Dwyer (0-7f); J Doyle (0-1), D Martin Carroll (0-2, 1f), G Moore; R Mahon (0-1), Jack Pettit (1-1), N Kirwan (1-2). Subs: J Firman for R Mahon, E Doyle for D Martin Carroll.

Referee - M Murtagh.


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