Kerry and Mayo will contest this year's All-Ireland JFC final following today's semi-finals.

Matty Forde featured as a half-time substitute for Wexford against Kerry in Fraher Field but he was unable to prevent the Model County from slipping to a 2-9 to 3-13 defeat.

The 2004 All Star, who retired from the senior stage in 2011, made an instant impression when finding the target inside 50 seconds of his introduction and also played a part in the build-up to a Mikie Dwyer goal which parachuted the Leinster champions into a 2-8 to 0-9 lead.

But two goals from the influential Conor Cox resuscitated the Kingdom's challenge and Killian Spillane applied the gloss to their victory with a third goal right at the end.

It was a disappointing outcome for the Model County who had led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break thanks to Paudie Barden's goal but they conceded 3-4 without reply in the closing quarter.

Kerry, meanwhile, now turn their attention to an All-Ireland final showdown against Mayo who defeated Kilkenny by 1-12 to 0-8 in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

Damien McGing netted the game's only goal in the first-half and the Connacht champions enjoyed a 1-6 to 0-2 lead at the halfway stage.

Kilkenny sent over three unanswered points after the resumption but there was to be no fairytale ending for the Cats, who won the British JFC provincial title, and Mayo finished with seven points to spare.

The final is fixed to be played on the weekend of August 8-9 at a venue to be confirmed.

Kerry - S Murphy; D O'Donoghue, D Culhane, G Crowley; J Walsh (0-1), T Morley, E Kiely; G O'Sullivan, L Kearney (0-1); P O'Connor (0-3), J O'Donoghue (0-1), B Crowley; A O'Donoghue, C Cox (2-4, 0-4f), J Kiely. Subs: K Spillane (1-0) for J O'Donoghue, B O'Sullivan (0-2) for G O'Sullivan, T Hickey (0-1) for J Kiely, A Barry for A O'Donoghue.

Wexford - R Cleary; P Curtis, J Rossiter, P O'Keeffe; S Doyle, R Vallejo, G Carty; G Malone, J White; N Harney (0-2), D Shanley (0-3f), M Dwyer (1-0); M Rossiter, P Barden (1-1), K Rowe. Subs: M Forde (0-1) for M Rossiter, C Redmond (0-1) for K Rowe, A Maddock for P Curtis, D Murphy (0-1) for G Malone, S Gaul for J White.

Referee - J Bermingham.

***

Mayo - B Forkan; B Leonard, B Moran, P Barrett; S Gaughan, D McHugh, M Barrett; P Collins, P Feerick; D Durcan, C Freeman (0-1), G Conway (0-4); D McGing (1-3, 0-1f), J Hutton (0-1), R Malee (0-3). Subs: E Collins for M Barrett, M Togher for D Durcan, D Healy for P Barrett, E O'Donoghue for B Leonard, B Carr for P Feerick, D Joyce for D McGing.

Kilkenny - JJ O'Sullivan; S Duncan, B Aylward, N Darcy; J Fennelly, P McConigley (0-1), P Roche; M Malone (0-2), J Culleton; D Herity, C Roche (0-2f), Cormac McDonald; M Bolger (0-1'45), P Donnelly (0-1), B Egan. Subs: D Lyng for Cormac McDonald, JJ Grace for D Lyng (BC), Conor McDonald (0-1) for J Fennelly, J Shieley for M Bolger, D O'Connor for P Donnelly.

Referee - F Barry.

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