Minor footballers progress to face Lilies in Leinster semi

DUBLIN 3-8 WEXFORD 0-11

Goals tend to win games and crucially Dublin got three in this Electric Ireland Leinster MFC quarter-final at Bellefield, Enniscorthy on Saturday afternoon.

Paddy Christie's side progress to a provincial semi-final against Kildare in Parnell Park on Saturday, June 27 after finishing stronger in the concluding 12 minutes to stave off a good Wexford side.

Dublin also did it somewhat against the odds - playing into the strong wind in the second half after the sides were level at the break and having two players black carded in the second half.

The Dubs had started very well to lead 1-2 to 0-0 inside the opening ten minutes.

Tom Fox opened Dublin's account with a brilliantly judged long-range strike in the third minute and two minutes later strong defence by James Holland deep in his own half set in motion an excellent move involving Brian Howard, Conor Kavanagh and Oisin Kelly before Dylan Keating fired to the net.

Shane Howard quickly extended Dublin's advantage to five points but the Slaneysiders then began to take control around the middle third and with the likes of Tadgh Cody, Mikey Dwyer and James Stafford impressing they were on level terms by the interval, 1-4 to 0-7.

The influential Dwyer put the hosts ahead in the 37th minute before Paddy Small stylishly converted a free to bring the sides level again.

The came the first of Dublin's black cards when Donal McIlgorm, who was beginning to fetch some great ball at midfield, was sent to the line in the 40th minute.

Small fired over his second free before Wexford went back in front with two points from corner-forward Fionn Cooney and Mark Rossiter.

Shane Howard, now operating on the inside forward line, equalised for Dublin before Wexford responded through a Stafford point to lead 0-11 to 1-7 with 13 minutes to play.

Wexford, however, failed to score again as they miscued in front of goal while at the other end Dublin, with fortune shining somewhat for them, hit an unanswered 2-1 before the finish.

Sub John Kindlon scored the first of these late goals when he found the net after Brian Howard's initial point effort came back off the angle of the upright and post. Five minutes later Kindlon became Dublin's second player to be black carded.

With six minutes left Dillon Keating showed his poacher's instinct to kick the decisive score after both Cormac Howley's and Conor Kavanagh's goal attempts had both been saved by keeper Eoin Cummins.

Cummins' reflexes were obvious again five minutes from time to deny Aaron Elliott while in the last few minutes Conor Kavanagh popped up in attack to kick the last point of this contest.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Keating 2-1 (0-1f), J Kindlon 1-0, T Fox, S Howard, P Small (0-2f) 0-2 each, C Kavanagh 0-1. Wexford: M Dwyer 0-4, M Rossiter 0-3 (0-1f), T Cody, J Stafford, F Cooney, N Doyle 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; J Holland, P O'Hanlon, G McNamara; C Kavanagh, B Howard, O Kelly; A Elliott, D McIlgorm; T Fox, S Howard, B Shovlin; P Small, C Howley, D Keating. Subs: C Pearson for Shovlin (ht), T O’Sullivan for McIlgorm (40, black card), J Kindlon for S Howard (45), C Keely for Kindlon (49, black card), C Hulton for Fox (60)

WEXFORD: E Cummins; J Dunne, R Deveraux, M O'Neill; J Sutton, S Doyle, T Cody; D Lyons, J Gardiner; C Joyce, M Dwyer, J Stafford; M Rossiter, N Doyle, F Cooney. Subs: C Kirwan for Lyons (29), S Barden for Sutton (37), S Casey for Gardiner (52), M O'Connor for O'Neill (55), T Bowler for Joyce (60).

REF: C Dwyer (Offaly).