Dublin scrape past Wexford

Dublin 0-15, Wexford 1-10

There’s no doubting but that Tommy Lyons has huge problems on his hand as his Dublin charge had to survive a battling Wexford second half performance to emerge with a two point victory in their Bank of Ireland Leinster senior football championship quarter-final at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow this evening.

Wexford - who trailed by six points at the interval - almost snatched victory in injury time when Matty Forde had a goalbound shot blocked away by a despairing dive by Dubs defender Paddy Christie.

It was a last minute scare for Dublin who really got out of jail.

It may have been their first outing of the summer but Dublin’s new look side have a real mountain to climb before their semi-final clash with the with Meath-Westmeath winners.

In the end it all came down to that last desperate Christie block to keep out Forde’s late effort for goal.

A goal at that stage would have produced the shock of the championship but it demonstrated the battling qualities of this Wexford side who refused to accept defeat despite been hopelessly outclassed during the opening 35 minutes.

Wexford chances should have been boosted when both David Murphy and Leigh O’Brien passed late fitness tests but it was not until the second half that the model county boys really got into the game which up to then looked to have slipped away from them.

Having trailed 0-9 to 0-3 at the interval, Wexford gave the game a much needed lift when substitute Scott Doran turned inside Barry Cahill to pick out the inrushing Redmond Barry who fisted to the net, all within 30 seconds of the restart.

Wexford’s confidence soared as they reduced the deficit to three points, 0-12 to 1-6 after 48 minutes.

With the Dubs becoming increasingly desperate it was substitute Jason Sherlock who popped over two points to restore a five point advantage, but Wexford put in a storming finish with points from Scott Doran, Matty Forde and Redmond Barry leaving just two points separating the sides as the game moved towards injury time.

It was Sherlock who gave his side a crucial three point advantage before that tension packed finish, as Forde saw his moment of glory whipped away from him by a desperate Paddy Christie block before Leigh O’Brien closed the scoring with a pointed free.

Although Dublin had the ideal start when Dessie Farrell pointed within 90 seconds, they failed to capitalise despite enjoying a monopoly of possession leading by just 0-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes, their remaining points coming through two Ray Cosgrove frees, while Wexford had to wait until the 19th minute for their opening score a Matty Forde point after been picked out by a long Leigh O’Brien free.

With Ciaran Whelan storming into the game at midfield and kicking two excellent points during this spell, the Dubs finally began to grow in confidence as they cruised into a 0-9 to 0-1 lead after 34 minutes, with the points flowing through two from Senan Connell with substitute Paul Curran who had just replaced the injured team captain, Coman Goggins also getting in on the scoring act.

However Wexford refused to die and battled back for injury time points with Matty Forde kicking an excellent free and wing-back Leigh O’Brien who passed a late fitness test adding a third, which left Dublin with a six point interval advantage, 0-9 to 0-3, which must have left them somewhat concerned given their first half control.

Dublin: S. Cluxton, B. Cahill, P. Christie, C. Goggins, P. Casey, J. Magee, P. Andrews, D. Homan, C. Whelan (0-2), S. Connell (0-2), S. Ryan, C. Moran (0-2), A. Brogan, D. Farrell (0-1), R. Cosgrove (0-5 frees). Subs: P. Curran (0-1) for Goggins (inj); D. Magee for Curran; T. Mulligan for Moran; J. Sherlock (0-2) for Brogan; J. Gavin for Connell.

Wexford: O. Murphy, C. Morris, P. Wallace, N. Murphy, D. Murphy, D. Breen, L. O’Brien (0-3, 0-1 free), D. Kinsella, W. Carley, P. Forde, J. Berry, R. Barry (1-2), J. Lawlor, J. Hegarty, M. Forde (0-4). Subs; S. Doran (0-1) for Lawlor; R. Mageean for N. Murphy.

Referee: B. Crowe (Cavan).