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Cool Cats cruise to victory Four minutes into this Leinster
hurling final and the game was already over as a contest.
Without ever exiting cruise control Kilkenny won another provincial and
delivered a show of strength which will echo throughout hurling’s
heartlands.
It’s not that Wexford gave a bad performance 1-12 is a respectable
tally but Kilkenny are a team on another level and once Willie O’Dwyer’s
shot was deflected into the Wexford net for a goal after four minutes
the Cats were certain of a 64th Leinster hurling title.
Henry Shefflin had one of those afternoons which will go straight into
his scrapbook of great games hitting 0-9 and creating chances for his
teammates almost every time he touched the ball.
Leading by 11 points at half-time Kilkenny opted to rest their entire
half-back and full-back lines but still the Wexford forwards could make
little impression on a game which was all about the winners.
The Cats converted their second goal a tidy effort from Willie O’Dwyer
midway through the second period and only then opted to relax a little.
A late goal from Wexford’s best player, Steven Nolan, was scant
consolation for the Slaneysiders who must once again try to pick themselves
up for the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Brian Cody has three weeks to prepare his team for their All-Ireland
quarter-final a game likely to test them more than this contest will have
done.
As a late evening dusk drew itself across the Croke Park skyline Kilkenny
had vanished back home to celebrate.
The only sound which echoed through the famous old stadium was that of
Wexford manager John Meyler shouting at his men. Meyler is one of hurling’s
realists and he knows how big the task is that he faces.
He said: “Similar to the League final we were not able to keep up
with Kilkenny at all. I always knew there was a gap between Wexford and
the very best teams.”
“Today showed me that the gap was even bigger than I thought.
We will keep working at it and hopefully can give our fans something to
shout about this season.”
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