Allianz NHL- Kilkenny and Wexford ends all square

Kilkenny will have been left frustrated after they failed to take home full points from their Allianz League Division 1A clash with Wexford in UPMC Nowlan Park.

The Leinster neighbours produced a thrilling contest with the result very much on the line right till the end as Billy Drennan missed a late free to snatch victory for the home side.

All four goals in the drawn encounter arrived in the second half with Drennan netting two penalties and Cian Byrne and Seamus Casey finding the net for Keith Rossiter's team.

With the aid of a strong wind, Kilkenny made the early running to lead 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval with Eoin Cody doing the majority of the scoring from placed balls.

Kilkenny's only points from play in the opening half arrived through Billy Ryan, Adrian Mullen and Martin Keoghan and with Lee Chin, Seamus Casey, Damien Reck and Conor Foley leading the challenge for Wexford, it was still all to play for.

Cian Kenny and Kevin Blanchfield pushed the Noresiders lead out to five points at the beginning of the second period but Wexford were only beginning to motor and on the back of outscoring their opponents 1-5 to 0-1 between the 38th and 49th minutes they moved two clear on the scoreboard.

The goal came courtesy of Seamus Casey but the introduction of Billy Drennan gave Kilkenny needed impetus and back to back frees ensured the sides were level going into the final quarter.

Drennan then converted a penalty after Mossy Keoghan was fouled in the square but the Cats still couldn't see off the Walsh Cup winners with the Model County primed to claim victory when points from Cian Byrne, Seamus Casey, Conor Foley and Tomas Kinsella edged them ahead.

Adrian Mullen did grab the equaliser minutes later and Kilkenny then appeared to have grabbed victory when Drennan converted his second penalty past Mark Fanning after Billy Ryan was cynically brought down by Damien Reck who was duly given a red card on a second bookable offence.

There was still more late drama however with Cian Byrne netting Wexford's second goal in the very next attack.

Billy Drennan had the chance to send Kilkenny fans home smiling but he left a free short with referee Thomas Gleeson blowing for full-time shortly afterwards as the Leinster neighbours took home a point each.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Billy Drennan (2-3, 3fs), Eoin Cody (0-7, 5fs and 1 '65), Adrian Mullen (0-2), Billy Ryan, Kevin Blanchfield, Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny (0-1 each)

Wexford- Seamus Casey (1-2), Cian Byrne (1-1), Lee Chin (0-4, 4fs), Tomas Kinsella, Cian Molloy, Conor Foley (0-1 each), Corey Byrne Dunbar, James Byrne, Kevin Foley (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Padraic Moylan, Darragh Corcoran, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Jordan Molloy; Cian Kenny, Kevin Blanchfield; Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody, Conor Heary; Billy Ryan, Harry Shine, Martin Keoghan.

Subs- Conor Fogarty for K. Blanchfield (47), Billy Drennan for Shine (48), Cillian Buckley for Kenny (65), Mikey Carey for Reid (71).

Wexford- Mark Fanning; Niall Murphy, Conor Foley, Eoin Ryan; Charlie McGuckin, Damien Reck, Conor Hearne; Corey Byrne Dunbar, Cian Molloy; Jack O'Connor, Lee Chin, Kevin Foley; James Byrne, Richie Lawlor, Seamus Casey.

Subs- Shane Reck for Hearne (40), Tomas Kinsella for O'Connor (45), Cian Byrne for Byrne Dunbar (55), Simon Donohoe for K.Foley (60), Cathal Dunbar for J.Byrne (63).

Referee- Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)