Rock earns senior footballers draw against Wexford

WEXFORD 2-6 DUBLIN 0-12

Dublin turned the game around in the second half to open their Bord na Móna Group A with a draw against Wexford in St Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy on Sunday.

Playing into the wind in the opening 35 minutes the hosts held the advantage at half-time, 2-5 to 0-4.

Ben Brosnan gave Wexford the dream start against the holders with a goal in the sixth minute, the opening score of the game.

Ten minutes in Dean Rock had a penalty saved, following a foul on Con O'Callaghan, by Wexford keeper Anthony Masterson and just a minute later Adrian Flynn converted from the spot at the other end when firing past Michael Savage for the Slaneysiders to open up a six-point lead, 2-1 to 0-1.

Before the interval Ciarán Reddin, Rock with a free and the hard-working Paddy Andrews, with the closing point of the half when he fisted over, left Dublin seven points in arrears at the break.

Dublin stepped up their game in the second half with the introduction of James McCarthy and Philly McMahon bringing added experience to Dublin's cause.

The Dubs hit seven points in-a-row while holding Wexford scoreless for 29 minutes but did lose McMahon to a black card 17 minutes into the second period.

Rock, Cormac Costello, Con O'Callaghan all tagged on points within six minutes of the restart.

Rock, Shane Carthy (St Vincent's), and Rock again made it 2-5 to 0-10 a Rock free brought the Dubs level  before Reddin almost goaled for the Dubs but his effort cannoned off the underside of the crossbar from 20 metres.

With six minutes remaining before Wexford kicked their only score of the second half, a PJ Banville point.

Entering the final minute Rock scored an excellent point from play to earn Dublin a share of the spoils.

The Dubs face Carlow IT in Parnell Park this Wednesday night (7.30) before concluding their group games against DCU next weekend.

SCORERS - Wexford: B Brosnan 1-1, A Flynn 1-1 (1-0 pen), K O’Grady, R Vallejo, K Rowe, PJ Banville 0-1 each. Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (0-2f), J Whelan, C Reddin, P Andrews, C Costello, C O’Callaghan, S Carthy 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: A Masterson; J O’Connor, N Rossiter, R Vallejo; B Malone, S Donohue, K Butler; G Malone, C Kehoe; K O’Grady, N Hughes, A Flynn; K Rowe, J Carty, B Brosnan. Subs: T Rossiter for G Malone (black card, 15), PJ Banville for Butler (43), S Ryan for Rowe (45), S Doyle for O’Connor (53), P O’Connor for Hughes (68).

DUBLIN: M Savage; E Culligan, J Curley, C Mullally; N Devereux, J Small, M Concarr; D Bastick, C Reddin; J Whelan, D Rock, S Carthy; C Costello, P Andrews, C O’Callaghan. Subs: G Hannigan for Devereux (inj, 11), P McMahon for Concarr (ht), J McCarthy for Bastick (ht), N Scully for Culligan (46), A Caffrey for McMahon (black card, 54), N Walsh for O’Callaghan (56), M Mac Donncha for Whelan (blood sub, 64).

REF: J Hickey (Carlow).