The first of the senior hurling finalists in Leinster and Munster will be decided this weekend in Wexford Park and Thurles as Kilkenny take on Wexford on Saturday evening while Limerick clash with Waterford on Sunday. Dublin meet Galway in the
second Leinster semi-final on Saturday week while Tipperary play Clare in Munster’s second semi-final on Sunday week.
This weekend will see the hurling championship heating up when Kilkenny meet Wexford in Wexford Park.
They meet for the first time in three years in the championship with Kilkenny seeking their sixth successive championship win over Wexford, having beaten their close neighbours in 2008-2007 (twice ), 2006-2005. Wexford’s last championship win over Kilkenny was in 2004 when they won the Leinster semi-final by two points, thanks to a last minute goal. That was the last time Kilkenny lost a championship game in Leinster. Wexford last reached the Leinster final in 2008, where they lost to Kilkenny, and are chasing their first provincial title since 2004.
This season the sides met in the hurling league with the final score Kilkenny 2-16, Wexford 0-17. Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid scored 1-3 each as Kilkenny ran out five-point winners. Kilkenny led by 2-9 to 0-6 at half-time and looked to be on their way to an easy win but Wexford battled back bravely and out-scored their rivals by 0-11 to 0-7 in the second half. Jim Berry scored 0-9 (0-7 frees ) for Wexford who were seeking their first win of the League.
Kilkenny are having their first outing in the 2011 Championship but Wexford already have a win behind them, having beaten Antrim by 3-16 to 1-11 in a first round tie in Wexford Park last Sunday week. Rory Jacob (1-5 ), David Redmond (1-2 ), Stephen
Banville (0-4 ) and Jim Berry 1-1 were Wexford’s main marksmen.
