Kilkenny kept the five-in-a-row dream in Leinster alive at a packed UPMC Nowlan Park, but only just.
The battling Cats had to dig deep during a thrilling second half before edging out great rivals Wexford by a single point in a nail-biting closing round clash in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
The Model County go through to the All-Ireland Hurling Chamionship quarter-final despite the loss.
The Cats had luck on their side. A controversial penalty award in the 51st minute, which boosted Kilkenny's lead at a vital time, looked like a harsh decision. Eoin Cody was definitely fouled when he took a low pass out of defence from Huw Lawlor.
However, Cody looked to be outside the penalty line area when impeded and knocked to the ground.
Referee Liam Gordon awarded the free shot and flashed a yellow card to a defender before TJ Reid rifled the ball into the net and Kilkenny into a 1-18 to 1-13 lead.
That score was crucial in the end as big hearted Wexford thundered back from one time arrears of six points (1-20 to 1-14) during the closing 15 minutes to lose out by a point.
Victory earned the Noresiders the ticket into the Leinster final where they will play Dublin in a repeat of the 2021 decider. Wexford finished third and qualify for the All-Ireland series.
Much of the action during the opening stages was of the 'protect the ball’ variety, with both teams playing a short game through the lines as they tried to pick open the opposing defence. In a scoring sense it was step for step - 0-01 each, 0-02 each and so on up to the 20th minute when Nowlan Park erupted when Conor McDonald goaled for Wexford.
The big Naomh Eanna man fielded a fast, direct ball out of defence from Damien Reck and with at least two defenders in close attendance he smashed a low angled drive from 22 metres on the right into the far corner of the net. Wexford jumped 1-07 to 0-06 ahead.
When midfielder Cathal Dunbarr finished a great run with a good point a minute later, Wexford were on the move when 1-08 to 0-06 in front.
Kilkenny, who on a number of occasions were short on numbers in the attack right in front of the opposing goal as defenders looked for long ball options, hit back for a minor from Richie Reid. From there to half-time the wind backed Cats out-scored the visitors by 0-05 to 0-03 to retire at the break 0-12 to 1-11 behind.
As the wind died at the start of the new half Wexford came under increasing pressure as Kilkenny found their best game and began to play the ball with more purpose out of a defence. Up front TJ Reid charged on and on, finishing with 1-13 to his credit.
Billy Ryan also hit the high spots, while the defence produced a glut of stars, including Paddy Deegan, who shot 0-03, David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey and Huw Lawlor.
The penalty call was a big one, and it really aroused the 18,785 attendance. Rory O’Connor had the next score for Wexford after the penalty goal, but the flying Ryan and Eoin Cody hit back to take Kilkenny 1-20 to 1-15 clear by the 55th minute.
Wexford were right back in the game in the 64th minute when Cian Byrne burst through for a goal (1-22 to 2-17), but Lee Chin was unlucky with an effort from a long range free within a minute.
Points were exchanged on two occasions during an intense and riveting closing before a Conor Hearne point from Wexford in the 72nd minute left the minimum between the teams. However, the clock ran out on the Slaneysiders.
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan (0-03), Mikey Carey (0-01); Cian Kenny, Richie Reid (0-01); John Donnelly (0-01), TJ Reid (1-13, goal penalty, 0-12 frees), Tom Phelan; Martin Keoghan (0-01), Billy Ryan (0-03), Eoin Cody (0-01).
Subs: Conor Fogarty for Phelan ht; Walter Walsh for Keoghan 61st min; Owen Wall for Ryan 71st min; Harry Shine for Kenny 72nd min.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Conor Foley, Eoin Ryan; Liam Ryan, Damien Reck, Matthew O’Hanlon; Conor Hearne (0-01), Cathal Dunbar (0-02); Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin (0-07, six frees), Liam Og McGovern (0-01); Cian Bryne (1-03), Conor McDonald (1-02), Rory O’Connor (0-02).
Subs: Kevin Foley (0-01) for Lawlor 52nd min; Jack O’Connor (0-01) for Dunbar 55th min; Charlie McGuckin for McGovern 59th min.
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
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