WEXFORD SIGN OFF IN STYLE AS CATS CAN'T HANDLE CHIN

WEXFORD ended what has been a painful season with a Lee Chin inspired victory over an experimental Kilkenny side in yesterday's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship fifth round clash at Wexford Park.

- BY BRENDAN FURLONG

From the opening minutes it was clear that Chin (above right) was firing on all cylinders and determined to end the campaign on high.

He finished the game with a personal tally of 1-13, 0-7 frees, while it was his second half goal that lifted a rather sombre atmosphere.

Ten minutes from the end, Chin fielded a high ball among a forest of hurleys, turned some 25 metres from goal some 15 metres to the right of goal, to blaze an unstoppable shot across keeper Eoin Murphy into the opposite corner of the net — a finish that would qualify for goal of the season.

Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng spoke of having experimented with his extended squad.

He said: "We already had one eye on the provincial final, so it was an opportunity to give our fringe players some game time.