Guiney rescues Wexford

Wexford 1-17 Dublin 1-17

They now get another chance, Parnell Park next Saturday and both have work to do, says Dublin manager Anthony Daly.

“By the standard of hurling, both teams need it and while it was probably an exciting game to watch, neither of the two teams will be doing well in the Leinster semi-final unless they can up it from that. Hopefully the extra match will stand to both teams.”

Halfway through the second half, on the back of a four-point run and roared on by the increasingly optimistic home support in an estimated attendance of about 7,500, Wexford stormed into the lead, 1-14 to 0-15.

Several times in the next ten minutes they had chances to really put Dublin away, substitute midfielder Lee Chin ! denied what would have been a brilliant solo goal by a superb Gary Maguire save, the same player shooting a bad wide a few minutes later after yet another defence-splitting run.

In that same period, however, Dublin were even more profligate, hit five very bad wides, free-taker Joseph Boland and sub Simon Lambert particularly guilty with a pair apiece as the pressure got to the pre-game hot favourites.

It left their manager with a horrible feeling of déjà vu, dark memories of Dublin’s last championship match — last year in Ennis, against Daly’s native Clare, similar circumstances as a demoralised Dublin succumbed to the tails-up home side. “It was looking very similar to Cusack Park. We hit some shocking wides during that time, I thought our half-forward line lost their shape and got dragged back the field — we talked about that during the week. But fair play, we stayed at it.”

Eventually, clock ticking down, it took a pair of youngsters to do the needful for Dublin, two subs at that, Mark Schutte using his strength to win a ball in the left corner, parting to Eamon Dillon who blasted first-time to the net.

“We needed a goal at that stage and we got it. Fair play to Mark he did very well, the only ball that was on, he popped it up and Trollier (Dillon) did what he does best.”

That goal put the Dubs a point ahead with just three minutes remaining and with tension mounting it was Wexford captain Gary Sinnott easing home nerves with the equaliser.

The drama wasn’t over yet, however. In the final minute of normal time yet another Dublin sub, high-scoring Paul Ryan, hit what appeared to be the winning point – not so fast. Final act of the match, showing nerves of steel, 20-year-old Jack Guiney stood over a 45m free out on the left and nailed the equaliser. Then again, given the pedigree (son of Dave, nephew of Rod, Dave’s twin) what else would you expect?

“You could argue ‘was it a free, was it not a free’,” said Daly, “But in the general picture Wexford didn’t deserve to lose the game anyway.”

No they did not, and that’s the truth, but then neither did Dublin.

Wexford started with six personnel changes from the team announced during the week and over twice that in positional switches, with only midfielder Harry Kehoe and left-half-forward David Redmond starting where selected. The most significant change of all however was one that didn’t officially register. Jack Guiney had been named to start in the ‘dummy’ team but, admitted Wexford manager Liam Dunne, wasn’t actually meant to play.

A Saturday morning sick-call to Liam from corner-forward Paul Morris, however, and Jack was back in the side. “He wouldn’t have started only for Paul was sick,” said a rueful Liam; “Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Though Dublin had a dream start, 0-6 to 0-1 ahead after just 12 minutes, hurling with authority and style, gradually Wexford eased their way into the game, young Jack and veteran Rory Jacob to the fore.

Defensively too Wexford began to get to grips with the Dubs, the inside line of Eoin Moore, Keith Rossiter and Tomás Waters especially impressive. The introduction of dual player Lee Chin also had a galvanising effect on Wexford, and Chin’s athleticism would cause Dublin all kinds of problems. By half-time Wexford were very much in the game, only a point behind (1-8 to 0-12, Guiney with the goal after a fine Eoin Quigley run and pass).

Dublin again took the early initiative in the second half but again Wexford came back, Guiney again in the van, three of the four points referred to at the top giving them that slight advantage. From there, that finish.

Scorers for Wexford: J Guiney 1-8 (6f); G Sinnott 0-4; R Jacob 0-3; H Kehoe, P Doran, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: J Boland (0-9, 8 frees); D Sutcliffe (0-3); E Dillon (1-0); M Carton (0-2); C McCormack, S Durkin, P Ryan (0-1 each).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; E Moore, K Rossiter, T Waters; R Kehoe, A Shore, C Kenny; H Kehoe, C O’Shaughnessy; G Sinnott (c), E Quigley, D Redmond; R Jacob, P Doran, J Guiney.

Subs for Wexford: L Chin for O’Shaughnessy (28); P Morris for Quigley (52); PJ Nolan for H Kehoe (59); G Moore for Doran (70).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, P Schutte; L Rushe, C Keaney, M Carton; S Durkin, J McCaffrey (c); R O’Dwyer, J Boland, D Sutcliffe; C McCormack, D Treacy, D O’Callaghan.

Subs for Dublin: E Dillon for Treacy (44); P Ryan for O’Callaghan (46); S Lambert for Durkin (55); R Traynor for P Schutte (58); M Schutte for McCormack (63). Blood sub: N McMorrow (O’Dwyer 6/12, 32/35, 48/50).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).