Wicklow bring the fight but eventually fall short of Dublin 

Brian Howard of Dublin is tackled by Dean Healy of Wicklow. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Wicklow 0-18 (0-4-14) Dublin 2-21 (2-2-19) 

Led admirably by captain Dean Healy, Wicklow gave a fine account of themselves as they went down as expected to Dublin in this Leinster SFC quarter-final in Echelon Park on Sunday afternoon.

Aughrim was abuzz for this game but when the visitors were four points up at the interval having faced the wind an avalanche of Dublin scores were expected.

Yet they never really came. Sure, Con O’Callaghan and Tom Lahiff sent over two-pointers but Mark Jackson kept out O’Callaghan while the likes of Joe Prendergast and Matt Nolan made crucial interceptions.

Up front, Healy was exceptional coming off the left wing and had four points to his name by the end. Wicklow were within five points up to the hour mark when the changes of personnel worked against them and Dublin reeled off more scores.

Like Armagh the day before, Dublin made a couple of post-registered squad changes to the team, which are permitted upon receipt of a doctor’s note. 

Cian Murphy didn’t make the match-day panel nor Stephen Cluxton who was replaced by Hugh O’Sullivan and the Ballyboden St Enda’s man made his championship debut between the posts.

Aside from a couple of score attempts that dropped short, he wasn’t bothered much in the first half, which Dublin finished 2-9 to 0-11 ahead despite facing a strong breeze.

Wicklow kicked six wides and dropped two short when they needed to make everything count to be competitive. By the 11th minute, Jackson failed with a third long-range two-point free effort.

Dublin were a point down in the 21st minute when Niall Scully drove in Dublin’s first goal. Brian Howard had been tackled strongly but the ball fell into Scully’s path and he struck it along the ground.

A second goal came five minutes later although Jackson had been level to O’Callaghan’s penalty strike but couldn’t do much about the follow-up. Colm Basquel had been tripped by Malachy Stone for the placed ball.

Wicklow’s second and third two-pointers from Mark Kenny and Oisín McGraynor gave the home side some respectability in closing out the half but Dublin seemed to be toying with them at times.

Pain was expected but it never transpired as Wicklow stood proud.

Scorers for Wicklow: C. McGraynor (0-5, 1tp, 1 free); D. Healy (0-4, 1tp); K. Quinn (0-3, 1tp); M. Kenny (0-2, tp); P. O’Toole, J. Prendergast, D. Fee, P. O’Toole (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dublin: C. O’Callaghan (1-7, 1tp, 0-1 free); N. Scully (1-1); C. Kilkenny, T. Lahiff (1tp) (0-3 each); S. Bugler, C. Basquel (0-2 each); G. McEneaney, K. McGinnis, P. Small (0-1 each).

WICKLOW: M. Jackson; T. Moran, M. Stone, J. Prendergast; C. Maguire, P. O’Keane, M. Nolan; D. Healy (c), J. Kirwan; D. Fee, P. O’Toole, J.P. Nolan; O. McGraynor, K. Quinn, M. Kenny.

Subs for Wicklow: C. O’Brien for J. Kirwan (45); G. Fogarty for P. O’Keane, C. Fee for M. Kenny (both 65); C. Baker for C. Maguire, L. O’Neill for J.P. Nolan (both 69).

DUBLIN: H. O’Sullivan; T. Clancy, D. Byrne, C. Tyrell; B. Howard, S. McMahon, G. McEneaney; P. Ó Cofaigh-Byrne, T. Lahiff; N. Scully, S. Bugler, C. Kilkenny; R. McGarry, C. O’Callaghan (c), C. Basquel.

Subs for Dublin: L. O’Dell for R. McGarry (52); P. Small for G. McEneaney (50); K. McGinnis for T. Lahiff (temp 50-ft); J. Madden for N. Scully (61); N. Doran for B. Howard (70+1).

Referee: S. Mulhare (Laois).