Kilkenny 1-18
Wexford 1-17
(after extra-time)

Kilkenny snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their Leinster MHC opener against Wexford in Innovate Wexford Park today.

Daniel O'Connor's third extra-time point proved to be the difference between the sides at the end of an absorbing 80 minutes and Pat Hoban's charges are now looking forward to a semi-final clash on June 20th.

It was hard luck on the hosts who had led for the majority of the regulation 60 minutes only to come undone by an Andrew Gaffney levelling free right at the death.

The teams finished deadlocked on 1-13 apiece and the black and ambers made the most of their reprieve by subsequently outscoring their opponents by five points to four.

Backed by a strong wind, Wexford found themselves 0-10 to 0-6 to the good after 30 minutes and Seamus Casey pounced for their goal early in the second-half.

With their backs very much against the wall, Gaffney pulled a goal back for the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions in the 52nd minute and they produced a strong finish to deny a gutsy Wexford effort.

Kilkenny - S Murphy; C Doheny, T Walsh, C McGrath; M Cody, D Joyce, R Bergin; R Leahy (0-1), J Connolly; C Hennessy, D O'Connor (1-3), R Butler; A Gaffney (0-11, 10f, 1'65), J Donnelly (0-2), R Murphy. Subs: T O'Dwyer for R Murphy, S Mahony for R Bergin, N Walsh (0-1) for C Hennessy, E Delaney for J Connolly, R Murphy for R Butler.

Wexford - O Foley; D Clarke, B Quigley, S Barden; C Kirwan, A Maddock, C Firman; C O'Connor (0-10, 7f, 1'65), J O'Connor (0-1); R White (0-2), J Petitt, I Carty (0-1); S O'Gorman, M Dwyer, S Casey (1-1). Subs: D Reck for D Clarke, D Codd (0-2) for I Carty, R O'Connor for D Reck, S Stafford for S O'Gorman, B Whitty for S Casey, J Dunne for S Stafford.

Referee - M Murtagh.

Hard luck lads a 1 point defeat a hard one to swallow, but great performance pic.twitter.com/1CNB2qsCzD

- Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) April 25, 2015

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