Late Lambert free shatters Dublin’s brave resistance

NOWLAN PARK on Saturday evening, well into the third minute of time added on, and we were within an ace of the first big surprise of this year’s championship.

Five points down with seven minutes to go, the game looked well and truly up for the Dubs, but two points from wing-forward David Curtin reduced the margin to three, and when centre-forward Ros O’Carroll goaled, in the first minute of the three signalled for additional time, it signalled a turnaround of major proportions.

Tails up, Dublin now came looking for the winner and Curtin again, from wide left, had a half-chance. To the relief of the huge Wexford following, however, the ball tailed off left, well wide.