Keoghan goals help Kilkenny get back to winning ways against Wexford

Kilkenny grabbed their second win of the Allianz Hurling League campaign when running out decisive winners away to Wexford this evening.

Derek Lyng's side led from pillar to post and it was in a dominant first half display that they put the result to bed as the visitors put last week's disappointing defeat to Galway behind them.

The Cats raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the opening quarter before Mossy Keoghan then found the net on two occasions as Wexford struggled to get to grips with their near neighbours.

In fact the Model County had to rely on placed ball efforts from Cian Byrne and Mark Fanning throughout the first half with their first score from play not arriving till 10 minutes into the second period.

As well as Keoghan finding the net on the double, Billy Ryan also saw a rasper of a drive rebound off the crossbar with Eoin Cody, Mikey Carey, Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy getting the points as Kilkenny went into the break with a huge 2-10 to 0-4 lead.

Wexford's fortunes weren't helped with key men Simon Donohoe and Rory O'Connor going off in the first half with injuries but they did improve somewhat on the resumption.

The Cats largely went through the motions in the second half with Cody continuing to nail his frees and Cian Kenny getting two nice efforts from play.

With Richie Lawlor and Conor Hearne coming into the game more and Cathal Dunbar converting a sideline cut, the Wexford crowd became more vocal but the unlikely comeback never really transpired with Billy Drennan coming off the bench to get the final point of the game and secure a solid eight point success.

Kilkenny will now enjoy the two week break to their next game with Limerick coming to UPMC Nowlan Park for a big clash on Sunday, February 23.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Eoin Cody (0-8, 0-8 frees); Martin Keoghan (2-0); Cian Kenny (0-3); Billy Ryan (0-2); Mikey Carey, Jordan Molloy, Harry Shine, Billy Drennan (0-1 each)

Wexford- Cian Byrne (0-6, 0-6 frees); Mark Fanning (0-3, 0-3 frees); Richie Lawlor (0-2); Seamus Casey (0-1, 0-1 free); Cathal Dunbar, Conor Hearne, Simon Roche (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Aidan Tallis Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; David Blanchfield. Mikey Carey, Paddy Deegan; Killian Doyle, Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan; Stephen Donnelly, Eoin Cody, Harry Shine. 

Subs- Billy Drennan for Donnelly, 56 mins; Eoghan Lyng for Keoghan, 56 mins; Peter Connellan for Deegan, 63 mins; Billy Reid for Carey, 67 mins; Niall Shortall for Ryan, 67 mins.

Wexford- Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck; Charlie McGuckin, Conor Foley, Richie Lawlor; Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar; Darren Codd, Jack Redmond, Rory O'Connor; Cian Byrne, Corey Byrne Dunbar, Connal Flood.

Subs- Cian Molloy for Donohoe, 15 mins; Cillian Byrne for O'Connor, 23 mins; Simon Roche for Codd, h-t; Seamus Casey for Flood, 51 mins; James Byrne for Byrne Dunbar, 68 mins.

Referee- Liam Gordon (Galway)