Stale Wexford giftwrap points for Dublin

Chris Crummey of Dublin and Conor Hearne of Wexford in action. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

Leinster SHC: Wexford 0-22 Dublin 2-21 

Pressure mounting for Wexford. Another year without a run in the All-Ireland series looks a lot more likely than it did before Saturday’s slip. The Kilkenny defeat may have felt like a missed opportunity, but this one at Chadwicks Wexford Park was a gift from the Model County, wrapped, ribboned and hand delivered to the Dubs.

Wexford trailed by nine at the break.

When Lee Chin slotted over a free in the 62nd minute, that cut the deficit back to nine. Such was their failure to build any sort of momentum.

The second period was stale while Wexford failed to make use of the wind advantage for almost 25 minutes, until they woke up in the closing stages, hitting seven points on the spin.

Keith Rossiter’s side fought relentlessly for every ruck, but they couldn’t find a goal chance they needed. Then, against the run of play, Donal Burke popped up for the best of his 14 points, a beautifully swivelled effort against the wind that curled in between the posts.

“I did feel we were on top,” Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin said after the win. “Probably left 1-2 or 1-3 behind us there in that first eight or ten. But generally on top, I would say. But that breeze is probably an eight- or nine-point wind.

“So, the first half was pleasing, but second half was more pleasing too. They threw everything at us there. The kitchen sink, particularly in the last five or six minutes. And to come out with a clean sheet from a goal perspective is very pleasing too.” 

Wexford never looked like getting the goal they needed, thanks in part to Liam Rushe – who was excellent on his return – and Eoghan O’Donnell.

“I thought we looked solid at the back in general and didn't look like we were going to concede a goal,” Ó Ceallacháin remarked. “Liam is a great man, a great character, he’s nothing inter-county under the belt for multiple years, a lot of it comes down to mindset, and Liam certainly has that.” 

Dublin took their first half majors well – Cian O’Sullivan and David Purcell the finishers – but they could and should have been avoided by Wexford.

Purcell’s was a gift, a stray puckout from Mark Fanning, before Conor Burke launched one from deep that Wexford failed to deal with, which O’Sullivan whipped to the net. That left it 2-12 to 0-7, and the hosts never looked like coming back from that.

Against the breeze, Wexford severely struggled. The ball into the full-forward line would not stick and when it did, they couldn’t muster a shot. They had a couple of penalty shouts waved away in the first half, and Lee Chin kept the deficit from growing out of control with placed balls.

But ultimately, they succumbed to their first-half wounds.

Scorers for Wexford: L Chin (0-14, 0-13 frees), R Banville (0-2), S Donohoe, C Hearne, S Roche, K Foley, D Codd, J O'Connor (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dublin: Dónal Burke (0-14, 0-7 frees, 0-3 65s), C O'Sullivan (1-3), D Purcell (1-0), B Hayes (0-2), C Burke, J Hetherton (0-1 each).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; D Carley, L Ryan, C Foley; D Reck, R Lawlor, S Donohoe; D O'Leary, C Hearne; R Banville, L Chin, D Codd; K Foley, Cillian Byrne, S Roche.

Subs: J Byrne for Codd (47), J O'Connor for C Byrne (57), E Wickham for Donohoe (63).

DUBLIN: E Gibbons; P Doyle, P Smyth, E O'Donnell; C Crummey, L Rushe, C Burke; C Donohoe, B Hayes; D Power, F Whitely, Dónal Burke; D Purcell, C O'Sullivan, J Hetherton.

Subs: C McHugh for O'Donnell (38), C Ó Riain for Power (49), R Hayes for Purcell (60), C Groarke for Hetherton (70+2), O Gaffney for Whitely (70+5).

Referee: S Hynes (Galway).