Lee Chin stars as Wexford stun Kilkenny to end Leinster SHC campaign on a high
LEE CHIN'S 1-13 masterclass saw Wexford end their Leinster Championship campaign on a high with a seven-point win over Kilkenny at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Wexford gave their supporters something to cheer about after a difficult provincial run, while Kilkenny - already through to the final - made wholesale changes ahead of their showdown with Galway in two weeks.
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Lee Chin starred with 1-13 for Wexford in the win over Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon
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Kilkenny made wholesale changes for the clash ahead of their match against Galway in two weeks
As a result, the Cats never led in the game and manager Derek Lyng admitted the display left him a little disappointed.
He said: 'We gave a lot of lads a chance, but at the same time we were absolutely coming here to put in a performance and get the win, so we're disappointed with that.
"But the focus now switches to a Leinster Final and we've a big two weeks ahead.'
He added: 'Wexford had a gale-force wind behind them in the first half, so they gained a bit of momentum.
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"But I actually thought we played quite well in the first half - we missed a couple of chances that would have brought us closer, and that would have been important going in at half-time.'
He continued: 'The goal at the start of the second half then opened up the gap a bit more. To their credit, our lads kept going, but it was too late to make a difference at that stage.'
Wexford were full value for their 0-12 to 0-5 half-time lead, with Chin leading the charge.
Rory O'Connor's goal four minutes after the restart put further daylight between the sides.
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Kilkenny, with TJ Reid and Cian Kenny battling hard, did try to claw back the margin — but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Chin struck for goal ten minutes from time.
Reid did find the net for Kilkenny in stoppage time, having earlier seen close-range frees blocked on the line, but the damage had already been done.
RTE pundit Joe Canning urges GAA to make huge change for Leinster hurling final as fans 'totally agree'
Wexford finished with seven points to spare in a well-deserved win.
WEXFORD:
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M Fanning; C Molloy, S Donohoe (0-1), C Foley; E Ryan, D Reck, D Carley; C Hearne (0-1), C Byrne Dunbar; J O'Connor (0-1), L Chin (1-13, 9f), R O'Connor (1-1); K Foley, M Dwyer (0-1), C Byrne.
Subs:
N Murphy for Reck (30), C Dunbar for Dwyer (50), C McDonald (0-1) for Byrne (55), D Codd for J O'Connor (67), C McGuckin for Molloy (69).
KILKENNY:
E Murphy; P Connellan, P Moylan, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, A Mullen (0-1), Z Bay Hammond; K Doyle (0-1), P McDonald; L Connellan (0-2), C Kenny (0-3), F Mackessy (0-1); B Drennan (0-1), TJ Reid (1-4, 2f, 2 65s), O Wall.
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Subs:
S Donnelly (0-1) for McDonald (44), G Dunne for Wall (49), R Reid (0-1) for Bay Hammond (59), N Shortall for Drennan (66), S Staunton for Mullen (68).
Referee:
Seán Stack (Dublin)
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