Late free gives Kilkenny Under-20's a share of the spoils with Wexford

A last puck of the game free from Patrick Lacey saw Kilkenny claim a draw with Wexford in Round 2 of the Fulfill Under-20 Hurling Championship in UPMC Nowlan Park.

An Ollie O'Donovan goal three minutes from time looked be enough for Henry Shefllin's side but Wexford had other ideas with Conor Fanning and Sean O'Brien both finding the net in the final few stages.

O'Brien's goal which arrived two minutes into stoppage time looked to have gave the Model County victory before Dicksboro star Lacey fired over his eight point of the game.

The tie was largely dominated by a strong wind blowing into the O'Loughlin's end goal and Wexford made full use of it as they led 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time with Darragh Ryan contributing five points for the visitors.

Kilkenny kept in touch with Lacey knocking over the frees and Kevin Buggy, Jake Mullen and Ed McDermott scoring from play and they looked in a decent spot at the change of ends.

After the sides swapped scores at the start of the second period, the Cats gradually hit a bit of momentum with Mullen, Greg Kelly and Ed Lauhoff finding the target to leave just a point between the neighbours.

Mullen's third and fourth points of the day then gave Kilkenny the lead for the first time and with Lacey also scoring three times in a dominant spell, the home team looked primed to seal the win as they led 0-16 to 0-13 going into the final 10 minutes.

This is where Wexford rallied as points from Darragh Ryan and Ronan Shannon got them back into the game before the manic ending to the contest that resulted in the teams finishing all square in the windup.

Kilkenny now sit in a decent position to make the knockout stages with their last group game against Galway on Wednesday week.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny: Patrick Lacey (0-8, 7fs); Jake Mullen (0-4); Ollie O'Donovan (1-0); Greg Kelly, Kevin Buggy (0-2 each); Ed Lauhoff, Ed McDermott (0-1 each)

Wexford: Darragh Ryan (0-7, 5fs); Sean O'Brien (1-1); Conor Fanning (1-0); Jack Nolan (0-2, 1f); Colin Carley, Ryan Doran (0-2 each); Ronan Shannon (0-1)

Kilkenny:  Billy O'Sullivan (James Stephens); Josh Dowling (Erin's Own), Darragh Vereker (Glenmore), Rory Garrett (Fenians); Evan Murphy (Dicksboro), David Barcoe (Clara), Jack Dollard (Glenmore); Kevin Buggy (Erin's Own), Sean Bergin (James Stephens); Patrick Lacey (Dicksboro), Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale); Fionn Mahony (Danesfort), Greg Kelly (O'Loughlin Gaels), Colm Treacy (Thomastown).

Subs: Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens) for Mahony, h-t; Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro) for Bergin, 48 mins; Ollie O'Donovan (John Lockes) for Treacy, 54 mins; Eoin Brennan (Erin's Own) for Kelly, 59 mins; Jim Conlon (Young Irelands) for Buggy, 61 mins.

Wexford: Paddy Quigley; Ryan Donohoe, Niall Furlong, Corey Ryan; Charlie Mooney, Ciaran Doyle, Charlie Roark; Donal Daly O'Toole, Ronan Shannon; Tom Dempsey, Colin Carley, Jack Nolan; Darragh Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Ryan Doran.

Subs: Ian Reilly for C.Ryan, 39 mins; Podge Doyle for Dempsey, 39 mins; Conor Fanning for Doran, 52 mins; Oisin Moore for Mooney, 52 mins; Marin Kisov for D.Ryan, 54 mins.

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)