Dubs take home Leinster crown

Dublin 1-18 Wexford 0-11

Dublin retained the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship title by beating Wexford for the second year running.

The Dubs had a man-of-the-match performance from Liam Rushe, while top scorer Kevin O’Loughlin (0-8) and goal-scoring substitute Eamonn Dillon starred in power-packed second half performance.

The throw-in at Wexford Park was delayed by traffic congestion as a large crowd converged on the venue.

Wexford, managed by Tony Dempsey, were right in contention at half-time, just 0-9 to 0-8 in arrears.

The sides were level on five occasions during a first half hour that cantered along, the highlight being the smart finishing at both ends.

Midfielder Emmet Kent led the way for Wexford with four points before a head injury unfortunately forced him off.

He helped the hosts take an early lead, but Dublin stuck with them and they hit the closing three points before the break courtesy of Dean Curran, Dillon and O’Loughlin.

O’Loughlin’s fourth point nudged the Dubs ahead at the turnaround, with their skipper Rushe, who manned the centre-back position, growing in influence.

Rushe was the subject of the GAA’s first ever ‘player cam’, run by broadcasters TG4, but it was Wexford who were centre stage early on.

Kent, O’Loughlin, Niall McMorrow and Paul Morris traded points in an even enough opening, before Kent knocked over two placed balls and Padraig Doran pointed after some clever passing.

That opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead for the Model County youngsters. O’Loughlin replied for Dublin and Wexford added to their wides tally through Michael O’Regan and Doran, who hit the post.

Dublin quickly swung play back downfield and McMorrow showed his sharpness with a second point. O’Loughlin’s excellent free from distance had the sides level in the 14th minute, at 0-5 apiece.

Kent was fouled by Rushe for a free that he pointed himself. However, a terrific point on the turn from defender Conor Gough squared things up again.

The run of scores tapered off briefly, until the lively Liam Óg McGovern turned neatly onto his left for a close range score. Morris broke into space and found the target to make it 0-8 to 0-6 to Wexford.

Dublin hit their seventh wide - O’Loughlin the guilty party – but Dean Curran’s delicate sideline cut from the right got them back on track.

Dillon danced along the left sideline for an inspiration point and O’Loughlin converted an injury-time free to give his side the lead again.

Within six minutes of the restart, this fired-up Wexford outfit were back level. Morris landed two frees and Harry Kehoe added his name to the scoresheet, replying to efforts from O’Loughlin (free) and Danny Sutcliffe.

The momentum was back with Dublin just two minutes later. Dillon produced a superb catch with his left hand and created the space for a low shot that beat Wexford captain Mark Fanning in goal.

It was a decisive moment for the John McEvoy-managed Dubs as was their full-back Darren Kelly’s bravery in blocking a certain goal from James Breen, with 20 minutes to go.

O’Loughlin (free) and Dillon tagged on further points and Sean McGrath, another substitute, put away a scoring chance wide out on the left.

Fanning came to the hosts’ rescue, thwarting Mark Schutte with a vital save, but McMorrow mopped up with a point in the aftermath.

The Wexford forwards were struggling to make an impact on the second period, striking their tenth wide, and Dublin economically built an unassailable lead.

A well-struck free from O’Loughlin took his personal haul to 0-7 and McGrath, who revelled in the space, pointed from play to put nine between the sides.

Wexford kept plugging away but their hopes of a first provincial success at this grade since 2002 were over and another O’Loughlin free wrapped up the scoring, with Dillon narrowly missing out on a second goal.

Scorers: Dublin: Kevin O’Loughlin 0-8 (0-6f), Eamonn Dillon 1-2, Niall McMorrow 0-3, Sean McGrath 0-2, Conor Gough, Dean Curran (0-1sl), Danny Sutcliffe 0-1 each

Wexford: Emmet Kent (0-2f, 0-1 ‘65’), Paul Morris (0-2f) 0-4 each, Padraig Doran, Liam Og McGovern, Harry Kehoe 0-1 each

DUBLIN: Ger McManus; Bill O’Carroll, Darren Kelly, Jack Doughan; Dean Curran, Martin Quilty, Conor Gough; Danny Sutcliffe, Daire Plunkett; Mark Schutte, Liam Rushe (capt), Robbie Mahon; Kevin O’Loughlin, Thomas Connolly, Niall McMorrow.

Subs used: Eamonn Dillon for Quilty (28 mins), Sean McGrath for Mahon (half-time), Ciaran Brennan for Schutte (50), Fionán Clabby for Connolly (60), Odhran Ó Maoiléidigh for O’Loughlin (60+1).

WEXFORD: Mark Fanning (capt); Willie Devereux, Matthew O’Hanlon, Pádraig Donnelly; Michael O’Regan, John Leacy, Shaun Murphy; Emmet Kent, Eoin Moore; Shane Tomkins, Harry Kehoe, Liam Óg McGovern; Paul Morris, James Breen, Pádraig Doran.

Subs used: Diarmuid O’Keeffe for Kent (22 mins), James Gahan for Leacy (43), Ian Byrne for Tomkins (47), Jamie Reck for O’Keeffe (56).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)