Minor footballers prepare for Leinster QF against Wicklow

Dublin's minor footballers face Wicklow in their Electric Ireland Leinster MFC quarter-final this coming Saturday in Joule Park, Aughrim (3.0).

It promises to be a thriller contest between two sides whose goal-scoring ability has caught the eye to date in the competition. 

The Garden County have made very significant strides in the past two summers under the guidance of legendary former Wicklow footballer Kevin O'Brien.

The Baltinglass man was a stalwart of his county's senior team for 15 years (1986-2001) and is the holder of his county's only All Star when selected at full-forward 1990.

Last summer Wicklow dented Dublin's hopes of emerging from the group phase when defeating Jason Sherlock's side 2-6 to 0-8 in Parnell Park.

First half goals from Kevin Quinn and Eoin Darcy paved the way for a 2-4 to 0-4 interval advantage for Wicklow after playing with the elements in the opening half.

They showed the tactical awareness of good coaching in the second period as they closed down the space in front of Dublin full-forward Luke Swan and played clever football on the counter-attack to frustrate the Dubs.

It was certainly no 'flash in the pan' victory as they also defeated Westmeath, drew with Louth and eventual champions Meath before losing to Kildare in the provincial semi-final replay after drawing after extra-time first time out.

This summer after losing to Kildare in their opening Group 3 game (1-16 to 0-12) they cruised to victory over Kilkenny (9-20 to 2-3) and Louth (5-18 to 0-10) to finish as runners up in the group behind the Lilywhites.

They were level with Kildare, 0-10 each, after 45 minutes but a Kildare goal from Adam Connelly when Wicklow full-back Sam Kearney was down injured ensure the Lilywhites prevailed.

Following their annihilation of a DJ Carey Kilkenny it was all to play for against Louth who had also run Kildare close in their group game (1-18 to 0-16).

However, the Wee County were absolutely no match for Wicklow as talented forward Eoin Doyle followed up on his 3-3 tally against the Cats by scoring 2-7 (0-6f) against Louth.

Matthew Ging, who was on the Wicklow team who defeated Dublin in 2018, also impressed with a personal tally of 1-4 (0-2f).

Dublin commenced their Leinster MFC Group 2 campaign with a 4-10 to 2-10 victory over a highly-rated Meath side in Parnell Park on Tuesday,April 23 in Parnell Park.

There was nothing between these well-matched teams but the Dubs showed good mettle over the conclusion to work their way to victory.

The counties were level 2-6 each at the break and the Royals moved two points clear early in the second period courtesy of points from David Bell and Eoghan Frayne.

Dublin had threatened to goal immediately on the restart when Senan Forker and Luke Murphy-Guinane dovetailed brilliantly but Forker’s effort was saved by Meath goalkeeper Dean Pluck.

If luck went against Dublin on that occasion it went with them just before the midpoint of the half when Fionn Murray’s free came back off the right upright and the hard-working Ryan O’Dwyer, who is available for this weekend's game following a one-match suspension, rifled to the net to put Jim Lehane’s lads 3-7 to 2-8 in front.

It was a lead Dublin never surrendered.

Dublin's minor footballers made it two wins from two starts when defeating Wexford (3-12 to 1-10) in in Bellefield, Enniscorthy on Wednesday, May 8.

Two goals early in the second half (32nd and 34th minutes) from Fionn Murray helped steer the Dubs to victory after they had led 1-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

Dublin had to play for 50 minutes with 14 players after the sending off of wing-forward Ryan O'Dwyer in the 12th minute but the Slaneysiders were never allowed made the numerical advantage count.

Playing with wind advantage Dublin opened well and led 0-5 to 0-0 inside 19 minutes. Two Murray frees got them up and running inside four minutes before the young Dubs almost struck for goal but Dara Fagan's close-range shot came off the post before they reworked an opportunity for Robbie Bolger to put over.

Fagan cleverly made space to kick Dublin's fourth point before a stylish point from Bolger pushed his side five points clear.

However, two Jack O'Leary points and one from play from wing-back Leigh Whelan cut the gap to 0-5 to 0-3 with five minutes to play in the opening half.

Crucially Dublin finished the opening period on the up with Bolger scoring a superb individual goal in the 28th minute when he dodged around three defenders and fired low to the net after great defensive work initially by the Dubs.

Fionn Murray converted his third free and a brilliantly struck shot by centre-forward Sean Kinsella saw Dublin hold a seven-point half-time lead but they had to face into the elements in the second half.

Any hopes of a Wexford comeback were rocked by two well executed Dublin breakaway moves leading to goals early in the second period with Fionn Murray on the mark on both occasions.

His second came following good work by Senan Forker and Robbie Bolger with the Thomas Davis lad showing a good eye for goal for Dublin to move 3-7 to 0-4 clear.

The hosts though battled back with points from subs Joe Curtis and Ryan Connolly and Leigh Whelan's second point cut the gap to 3-7 to 0-7 with over 20 minutes remaining.

However, their occasional aerial bombardment of Hugh O'Sullvan's goal failed to pay dividends as the Ballyboden St Enda's netminder did well under the high ball.

Fionn Murray broke the Wexford chain of scores with a tricky pointed free before Wexford were thrown a lifeline when a mix up in the Dublin defence gifted Curtis a goal.

However, Dublin looked dangerous on the counter-attack on occasions to the finishing line as Wexford pushed hard to close the gap even further.

Dublin completed their group stage with an 100 per cent record when overcoming a battling Offaly side (2-13 to 0-13) at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, May 15.

The Dubs survived a few scares along the way before emerging deserved victors to make it three wins from three starts in their group and set up this Saturday's provincial quarter-final against Wicklow.

Dublin played some excellent football in the opening 20 minutes and led 2-5 to 0-2 but were put on the back foot as Offaly then outscored the Dubs 0-6 to 0-1 until the second minute of the second half.

The Faithful County were awarded two penalties in a dramatic flurry of excitement in immediate succession in the 41st minute but the Dubs survived on both occasions to run out six-point victors.

The ball-winning prowess and strength in possession of the Castleknock full-forward was to the fore as Dublin settled into their task.

Dara Fagan added Dublin's third point following good work from Fionn Murray as the interplay of Dublin's forwards put Offaly on the back foot.

Clinical movement of the ball between Luke Curran and Luke Swan ended with Robbie Bolger running onto a handpass to fist to the net to push Dublin 1-3 to 0-1 clear by the 13th minute.

Dublin's second goal came in the 18th minute when Robbie Bolger spotted Fionn Murray in space and he fired to the net past Cathal Ryan to make it 2-4 to 0-2.

Ten minutes before the interval Dublin's lead was extended to 2-5 to 0-2 following a Bolger point but the Dubs played second fiddle for the remainder of the half as Offaly became more adventurous in attack.

Points from Morgan Tynan and Cormac Delaney (two each, one free each) as well as pacey corner-forward Darragh Flynn, who engaged in a great head-to-head battle with Dublin's Conor Tyrell, had the gap closed to 2-6 to 0-7 at the interval.

Nine minutes into the second half Dublin keeper Hugh O'Sullivan showed great reflexes to parry a Tynan effort over the crossbar, it was a portent of things to come.

Two minutes later ref Niall Ward awarded Offaly a penalty taken by Delaney that was saved by Dublin keeper Hugh O'Sullivan with his feet, the Ballyboden St Enda's then scooped the ball off his line but in the goalmouth scrambled that ensued Offaly were awarded a second penalty that was sliced wide by Delaney.

Dublin breathed a collective sigh of relief. Importantly Dublin secured the next score when sub Callum Monaghan scored the first of his two vital points. Indeed Dublin got good impact off the bench with sub Ross Keogh also hitting a point before the finish.

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DUBLIN'S ROUTE TO 2019 LEINSTER MFC QUARTER-FINAL

GROUP 2

Tuesday, April 23, Parnell Park: Dublin 4-10 Meath 2-10

Wednesday, May 8, Bellefield, Enniscorthy: Wexford 1-10 Dublin 3-12

Wednesday, May 15, O'Connor Park, Tullamore: Offaly 0-13 Dublin 2-13

WICKLOW'S ROUTE TO 2019 LEINSTER MFC QUARTER-FINAL

GROUP 3

Tuesday, April 23, St Conleth's Park, Newbridge: Kildare 1-16 Wicklow 0-12

Tuesday, May 7, Nowlan Park, Kilkenny: Kilkenny 2-3 Wicklow 9-20

Wednesday, May 15, Joule Park, Aughrim: Wicklow 5-18 Louth 0-10

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2019 DUBLIN MINOR FOOTBALLERS: Scoring Chart

Dublin minor footballers have scored 9-35 and conceded 3-33 in their three games to date (wins against Meath, Wexford, Offaly). Eleven players have contributed so far to their scoring tally.

Fionn Murray 3-11 (0-9f, 0-1 '45')

Robbie Bolger 3-6

Luke Swan 1-4

Seán Kinsella 1-3

Ryan O'Dwyer 1-2

David O'Dowd 0-2

Dara Fagan 0-2

Callum Monaghan 0-2

Alex Rogers 0-1

Luke Curran 0-1

Ross Keogh 0-1

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2019 DUBLIN MINOR FOOTBALLERS, LEINSTER MFC: GAME-BY-GAME

LEINSTER MFC GROUP 2 - ROUND 1

TUESDAY, APRIL 23: Parnell Park

DUBLIN 4-10 MEATH 2-10

SCORERS – Dublin: R O’Dwyer 1-2, F Murray 0-4 (0-3f), S Kinsella, L Swan 1-1 each, R Bolger 1-0, A Rogers, D O’Dowd 0-1 each. Meath: D Bell 1-1, N Finnerty 0-3, A Chinchilla 1-0, P Sheridan, E Frayne (0-2f), B Thompson (0-2f) 0-2 each.

DUBLIN: H O'Sullivan; C Tyrell, B Millst, C Archer; A Watson, S Forker, J Lundy; L Murphy-Guinane, D O'Dowd; R O'Dwyer, S Kinsella, A Rogers; R Bolger, F Murray, D Fagan. Subs: L Swan for Rogers (ht), T Brennan for Fagan (40), L Curran for Bolger (50), K Conroy for Forker (51), H Colclough for Murphy-Guinane (60), E Gannon for Archer (63).

MEATH: D Pluck; J Fagan, A King, H Corscadden; H Ryan, A Chinchilla, C Caulfield; J Carolan, C Hegarty; E Corrigan, N Finnerty, E Frayne; P Sheridan, B Thompson, D Bell. Subs: S Smyth for Corrigan (23), E Ehichoya for Corscadden (46), S O'Donoghue for Ryan (48).

REF: A Coyne (Westmeath).

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LEINSTER MFC GROUP 2 - ROUND 2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8: Bellefield, Enniscorthy

DUBLIN 3-12 WEXFORD 1-10

SCORERS - Dublin: F Murray 2-6 (0-6f), R Bolger 1-3, D Fagan, S Kinsella, L Curran 0-1 each. Wexford: J O'Leary 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 '45'), J Curtis 1-1, L Whelan 0-3 (0-1f), R O'Connor, R Connolly 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: H O'Sullivan; C Tyrell, B Millst, C Archer; A Watson, D O'Dowd, J Lundy; H Colclough, S Forker; R O'Dwyer, S Kinsella, F Murray; D Fagan, L Swan, R Bolger. Subs: E Gannon for Archer (ht), L Murphy-Guinane for Colclough (43), B Harding for Lundy (48), K Conroy for Watson (54), L Curran for Fagan (56).

WEXFORD: T Kennedy; L Newport, B Cushe, E Doyle; P Darcy, J Bolger, L Whelan; P Deeney, T Kavanagh; T Barron, R O'Connor, S Kehoe; L Doyle, J O'Leary, C Regan. Subs: J Curtis for Barron (27), R Connolly for Bolger (30+3), L Crowley for Kehoe (37), O Waters for Deeney (59).

REF: K Harris (Kildare).

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LEINSTER MFC GROUP 2 - ROUND 3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15: O'Connor Park, Tullamore

DUBLIN 2-13 OFFALY 0-13

SCORERS – Dublin: R Bolger 1-3, F Murray 1-1 (0-1 ‘45’), L Swan 0-3, C Monaghan 0-2, D O’Dowd, S Kinsella, D Fagan, R Keogh 0-1 each. Offaly: C Delaney 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ’45’), M Tynan 0-4 (0-3f), D Flynn 0-2, J Sheerin 0-1.

DUBLIN: H O’Sullivan; C Tyrell, B Millist, E Gannon; A Watson, D O’Dowd, J Lundy; H Colclough, S Forker; L Curran, S Kinsella, F Murray; D Fagan, L Swan, R Bolger. Subs: K Conroy for Forker (inj, 22), C Monaghan for Gannon (bc, ht), R Keogh for Fagan (45), L Murphy-Guinane for Curran (50), C Nugent for Colclough (57), FJ Turner for O’Dowd (57).

OFFALY: C Ryan; M Bolton, F Dempsey, D Dempsey; J Furlong, A Strong, L Pearson; R Strong, L Egan; J Sheerin, C Delaney, A Kelly; H Plunkett, M Tynan, D Flynn. Subs: J Nolan for Bolton (ht), D Daly for R Strong (50), A Byrne for Kelly (50), C White for Plunkett (50), D Fox for Furlong (59), C Egan for Dempsey (59).

REF: N Ward (Westmeath).