)
Image courtesy Conor Ryan
DUBLIN 2-21
WICKLOW 0-18
Dublin advanced to the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior Football Championship when accounting for Wicklow by nine points at Echelon Park, Aughrim on Sunday afternoon.
The Dubs led by 2-9 to 0-11 at the interval with goals from Niall Scully and Con O’Callaghan helping build that four-point buffer.
The lead was stretched to eight points within six minutes of the restart and while Wicklow continued to battle to the final whistle, they goal required to ignite a comeback proved elusive as the visitors held on with a fair degree of comfort.
It was Wicklow that made the brighter start but two early wides preceded O’Callaghan opening the scoring for Dublin in the 3rd minute.
Oisin McGraynor eventually rewarded the home team when levelling in the 6th minute but Dublin hit back to regain a semblance of control courtesy of scores from Colm Basquel and Ciaran Kilkenny.
McGraynor and Scully exchanged points before the hosts restored parity through a two-pointed score by Kevin Quinn in the 13th minute.
After falling behind to another McGraynor point at the start of the second quarter, the Dubs eventually seized control of matters as Scully availed of some sloppy home defending to raise the first green flag of the contest.
O’Callaghan added his second point in the 23rd minute and while Dean Healy availed of the wind at his back when landing another two-pointed effort, O’Callaghan put further distance between the teams as he fired home after his initial penalty was repelled by Mark Jackson.
Wicklow fought back through a third two-pointer of the half, with Mark Kenny on target on this occasion, and while McGraynor added another before the break, two points in quick succession by Sean Bugler allowed Dublin the benefit of a four-point lead by half-time.
)