'If we hadn't found a way to get that draw, we'd be gone' - Crummey's late leveller sparks Dubs delight

There was more controversy at the final whistle as both sets of players traded shoves and insults while opposing managers Niall Ó Ceallacháin and Keith Rossiter went nose-to-nose

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026 - 13:24

Paul Keane

NHL Division 1B: Dublin 4-19 Wexford 3-22

Niall Ó Ceallacháin insists Dublin are still in the Division 1B promotion race, but only just after their dramatic draw with Wexford.

Manager Ó Ceallacháin, who went nose-to-nose with Wexford boss Keith Rossiter as a rollercoaster encounter boiled over late on, said a loss would have ended their hopes of a top-two finish.

As things stand, they're four points behind Wexford though they have a game in hand on the Model County who still have to play Clare, next as it happens on March 8 in Ennis.

Wexford looked set to beat Dublin for the first time since 2021 when they led by two points late on but points from Brian Hayes and captain Chris Crummey, the latter coming in the 75th minute, secured a draw.

"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge yet but what this result does is it definitely keeps us alive," said Ó Ceallacháin. "There's no question, if we hadn't clipped that point at the end for a draw, I'd be saying, 'We're gone'. I don't think you can lose four points in this League and still make the final.

"We've lost three, we certainly can't lose any more. We have big, big games ahead and out of respect for all teams, I think there's a lot of fixtures that still need to be played out yet. So I don't know (if Dublin will be promoted) but I do know that if we hadn't found a way to get that draw, we'd be gone."

John Hetherton slotted two goals on his seasonal return while Dónal Burke hit 1-9 for last year's All-Ireland semi-finalists. All-Star Cian O'Sullivan grabbed the other goal, after just 10 minutes, as Dublin ran up a 2-6 to 0-6 lead.

They struggled for the rest of the half and trailed by three at half-time as Kevin Foley struck the first of his two goals for Wexford.

Lee Chin, on his first start of 2026, nailed Wexford's third goal from a penalty while there were second half Dublin goals from Burke, also from a penalty, and Hetherton.

The real intrigue was around the number of cards dished out by referee Michael Kennedy. The Tipperary whistler was in charge last summer at Parnell Park when he awarded the Dubs a controversial goal in their four-point Leinster SHC win.

This time, he dismissed Dublin duo Conor Groarke and Paddy Smyth, brandished three black cards, which resulted in three penalties, and gave out five yellows.

And there was drama late on as both Ó Ceallacháin and Wexford manager Keith Rossiter squared up over the awarding of a free to Wexford while players traded shoves and insults as they left the pitch.

All of which sets things up nicely for their Leinster SHC rematch on May 9 in Wexford.

"I think the two of us got excited," said Rossiter of his clash with Ó Ceallacháin. "We both used to hurl, we're both passionate about our counties. It didn't spill over, there was nothing in it. A couple of words exchanged, which is grand."

The pair embraced at full time and appeared to leave the field on better terms.

"We shook hands afterwards," said Ó Ceallacháin. "That's absolutely no issue."

Dublin will travel to play Antrim next Sunday while Wexford have their promotion shoot-out with Clare on Sunday week, in Ennis.

This was Wexford's best performance of the campaign having only just beaten Antrim and Down before coming from behind to overcome Carlow.

"We're unbeaten going up to Clare," said Rossiter. "I would have been very happy if you'd told me a month ago that we'd be unbeaten heading into Round 5."

Dublin scorers: Donal Burke 1-9 (0-7f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), John Hetherton 2-0, Cian O'Sullivan 1-1, Brian Hayes 0-2, Fergal Whitely 0-2, Eoghan O'Donnell 0-1, Conor Groarke 0-1, Conor Donohoe 0-1, John Bellew 0-1, Chris Crummey 0-1.

Wexford scorers: Simon Roche 0-10 (0-8f), Kevin Foley 2-0, Lee Chin 1-1 (1-0 pen), Conor Hearne 0-3, Darren Codd 0-1, Ross Banville 0-1, Tomás Kinsella 0-1, Mark Fanning 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Foley 0-1, Rory Higgins 0-1, Damien Reck 0-1, Darragh Carley 0-1.

Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell; Andrew Dunphy, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Conor Groarke, Darragh Power; Dónal Burke, Brian Hayes, Fergal Whitely; John Hetherton, Ronan Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Conor Donohoe for Power h/t, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for Whitely 53, Dara Purcell for Ronan Hayes 62, Conal O Riain for O'Sullivan 69.

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Darragh Carley, Conor Foley, Simon Donohoe; Damien Reck, Richie Lawlor, Eamon Wickham; Conor Hearne, David Codd; Ross Banville, Simon Roche, Darren Codd; Lee Chin, Kevin Foley, Tomás Kinsella.

Subs: Rory Higgins for Kinsella 44, Diarmuid O'Leary for Wickham 49, James Byrne for Darren Codd 59, Cian Byrne for Banville 71.

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).