Senior footballers progress to provincial semi-final

LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 0-15 WEXFORD 0-7

Dublin will face Meath in the Leinster SFC semi-final following Sunday's provincial quarter-final victory over Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

The Dubs improved in the second half following a lacklustre start with Wexford opening the better in the first quarter.

Dean Rock made his competitive return to action, and kicked a trademark point, after injury had ruled him out of the league. However, the injuries to Robbie McDaid and second half sub Aaron Byrne were a worrying sight.

By the first water stoppage the game hadn't come to life with the hosts leading 0-3 to 0-2 - Wexford's scores coming from Mark Rossiter (two, one free) and John Tubritt. 

Brian Fenton opened the scoring inside the opening two minutes but Cormac Costello's eighth minute free, following a foul on Con O'Callaghan, was Dublin's only other score.

In the tenth minute Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne broke through on goal but his goal effort was smothered by a combination of Wexford defenders.

Dublin were to hit the next seven scores, four in the second quarter followed by three more on the second-half restart, to move 0-9 to 0-3 clear.

It was 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval and the second half began with an extended bout of Dublin possession than eventually concluded with a wonderful point by Brian Howard, splitting the posts with a shot with the outside of his right boot from 35 metres.

They also created two goal-scoring opportunities in the third quarter but converted neither.

In the 42nd Con O'Callaghan's effort was blocked out for a '45' by Wexford wing-back Michael Furlong - the first move of any real potency by Dublin.

Five minutes later Niall Scully was just wide after being released towards goal by David Byrne.

After being held scoreless for almost 40 minutes Pádraig Hughes cut the gap to 0-9 to 0-4 with just over 20 minute remaining.

Before the second water break Brian Fenton and Cormac Costello scored, his first from play, to leave it 0-11 to 0-4.

Tom Lahiff and Cormac Costello slotted points and a stylish effort from sub Collie Basquel pushed Dublin 0-14 to 0-5 clear by the 66th minute.

Before the finish Wexford sub Donal Shanley contributed two fine points, one a 46-metre free the other from wide on the right.

SCORERS - Dublin: C Costello 0-7 (0-5f), B Fenton, B Howard 0-2 each, D Rock, C Kilkenny, T Lahiff, C Basquel 0-1 each. Wexford: M Rossiter 0-3 (0-2f), D Shanley 0-2 (0-1f), P Hughes, J Tubritt 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; S MacMahon, D Byrne, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, B Howard, R McDaid; B Fenton, P O Cofaigh Byrne; P Small, C Kilkenny, N Scully; R Basquel, C O'Callaghan, C Costello. Subs: T Lahiff for McDaid (inj 34), S Bugler for R Basquel (ht), C Basquel for Scully (53), A Byrne for Small (56), D Rock for A Byrne (inj 66).

WEXFORD: D Brooks; L O'Connor, G Sheehan, E Porter; B Malone, M O'Connor, M Furlong; D Waters, L Coleman; P Hughes, T Byrne, K O'Grady; M Rossiter, J Tubritt, N Hughes. Subs: S Nolan for Tubritt (42), A Tobin for Waters (inj 57), D Shanley for N Hughes (62), R Brooks for Rossiter (62), C Carthy for O'Grady (66).

REF: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).