Dublin survive scare against defiant Wicklow to reach Leinster semi-final

Wicklow will have regrets about how they failed to capitalise on the chances which could have created a seismic championship shock

NEXT UP: Dublin will play Louth in the Leinster SFC semi-final on May 2. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Leinster SFC: Dublin 2-16 Wicklow 2-14 

Boy, did Dublin live dangerously in Aughrim.

They're still alive in the Leinster SFC as for the second year in a row they have dodged the banana skin presented by Wicklow in Aughrim.

But this was much tighter than last year's nine-point win and, in truth, Wicklow will have nightmares about how they failed to turn the screw on the visitors.

Selector Dean Rock took charge of Dublin in the absence of suspended manager Ger Brennan and won't have too many fond memories of his debut.

Paddy Small's 1-6 haul and, in particular, his 58th minute goal ultimately nudged Dublin to victory and a semi-final clash with Louth in Portlaoise on May 2. Charlie McMorrow struck the other goal for Dublin while Seán Bugler weighed in with 0-5 from play.

But they lived right on their wits with Wicklow, inspired by two-goal hero Eoin Darcy, cutting the gap to just two points late on.

Wicklow, conquerors of Carlow in Round 1, also drilled a dozen wides overall and eight in the second-half, with half a dozen wides on the day from the normally reliable Mark Jackson. Throw in JP Nolan's two late wides and it adds up to a great opportunity that the Garden County failed to take.

They finished 20 places lower in National League terms but were a match for the 2023 All-Ireland winners and had stars in Darcy, who struck 2-2, and captain Dean Healy, who registered 0-5.

A tough day for Dublin was compounded by the 67th minute dismissal of Liam Smith who'd earlier come on to make his Championship debut. They lost Con O'Callaghan and Colm Basquel to apparent fresh injuries also.

Dublin went with just seven of their starters from last year's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final loss to Tyrone, highlighting the scale of change under Brennan.

Stephen Cluxton, in goals for that defeat to the Red Hands last summer, is now a selector and was a vocal presence beforehand during the warm-up.

There were first Championship starts in Dublin's defence for Cuala duo Charlie McMorrow and Eoin Kennedy, along with Nathan Doran. Páidí White from St Sylvester's also made his Championship debut in attack.

But White's day got off to a desperate start as, two minutes in, he hauled down Padraig O'Toole and conceded a penalty that Darcy converted for Wicklow.

It put the Division 4 outfit into a lead that they held until the last minute of the half as Dublin, under pressure at midfield, and under siege at times at the back, struggled for long spells.

Eoin Darcy gave Wicklow an early advantage when he converted a penalty. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Darcy put 1-2 on the board in that period for the hosts while Healy, Christopher O'Brien and O'Toole got their names on the scoresheet too.

When O'Brien pointed in the 31st minute after great work by O'Brien, Wicklow led by 1-7 to 0-7 and weren't flattered by that lead. Aside from the scoreline, the other big surprise was that two-point expert Jackson hadn't yet converted, the big goalkeeper drilling two wides from distance.

Dublin suddenly came alive approaching half -. Small, their most potent forward, who was trailed by Gavin Fogarty, drilled his second two-pointer of the half, closely followed by a Killian McGinnis two-pointer.

Then, with only seconds left in the half, quick Dublin hands in the Wicklow danger area eventually cleared McMorrow to take possession in front of goal and he slammed to the net.

Even with a couple of earlier goal chances, Dublin's 1-11 to 1-7 half-time lead flattered them and came as a hammer blow to Wicklow, who at least had the wind advantage to come.

They made good use of it, Healy floating over a two-pointer three minutes after the restart.

Dublin returned without O'Callaghan and Greg McEneaney, Cormac Costello and Seán MacMahon getting the nod in their place.

Bugler was Dublin's main threat in the second half and added three points in the third quarter.

But a second Healy two-pointer, allied to Darcy's second goal when he fisted in at the back post after McGraynor's delivery, tied it up at 2-11 to 1-14.

By now, Dublin had former All-Star Colm Basquel, 2025 All-Star nominee Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and multiple All-Ireland medallist Cormac Costello on the pitch.

Basquel and Niall Scully pointed and when Dublin walked the ball into the Wicklow net in the 58th minute, Small applying the finish, the favourites led 2-16 to 2-11.

But Wicklow refused to relent and but for some errant kicking could have pulled off a seismic Championship shock.

Scorers for Dublin: Paddy Small 1-6 (2 tp), Seán Bugler 0-5, Charlie McMorrow 1-0, Killian McGinnis 0-2 (tp), Con O'Callaghan 0-1 (0-1f), Colm Basquel 0-1, Niall Scully 0-1.

Scorers for Wicklow: Eoin Darcy 2-2 (1 pen), Dean Healy 0-5 (2 tp), Oisín McGraynor 0-4 (1 tpf, 0-1f), Pádraig O'Toole 0-1, Cian Deering 0-1, Christopher O'Brien 0-1.

DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Greg McEneaney, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Brian Howard, Tom Lahiff; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Páidí White; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Con O'Callaghan.

Subs: Cormac Costello for O'Callaghan h/t, Seán MacMahon for McEneaney h/t, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne for Lahiff 43, Colm Basquel for White 52, Liam Smith for MacMahon 56-59, Smith for Murchan 60, Ethan Dunne for Basquel 59.

WICKLOW: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Conall Ó Gallchobhair, Gavin Fogarty; Cian Deering, Matt Nolan, Jonathan Carlin; Dean Healy, Jack Kirwan; Jack Hardy, Pádraig O'Toole, Christopher O'Brien; Oisin McGraynor, Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy.

Subs: JP Nolan for Kenny 49, Joe Prendergast for O'Brien 57, Kevin Quinn for Hardy 59, Cathal Baker for Deering 66.

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).