U20 footballers make winning start to Leinster campaign

Sat, 8th February 2020

LEINSTER U20FC FIRST ROUND

DUBLIN 1-17 WICKLOW 1-7

Dublin’s under-20 footballers got their Leinster Championship campaign off to winning start when defeating Wicklow by ten points at Joule Park, Aughrim on Saturday afternoon.

The Dubs advance to face Longford next Saturday (2.0) in Parnell Park in the provincial quarter-final.

The boys in blue laid the platform in the first half when they quickly recovered from conceding an early goal before concluding the half in dominant fashion to lead by three points at the break.

Dublin also finished the game on top as they scored the last six points despite suffering black cards to Pádraig Purcell and Ciarán Archer in the 54^th and 55^th minute respectively.

Second half sub Pádraig Purcell had two points to his name before trooping off.

Dublin extended their half-time advantage with points from Ciarán Archer, Alan Murphy and Pádraig Purcell on the restart as Wicklow only managed two second half points, both from Matthew Ging.

Dublin led 1-11 to 1-7 with ten minutes, plus six added, to play and they finished strongly with points from Purcell, a fine Luke Swan effort, Kieran McKeon, Rory Dwyer, Swan (free) and sub Ciarán O’Reilly.

Wicklow, backed by the strong wind, made a dream start with an Eoin Darcy goal in the three minute but Dublin replied shortly after with Adam Fearon raising a green flag.

Points from Kevin Quinn, James Hedderman and Eoghan Byrne saw the hosts move three points clear but Dublin improved as the half progressed.

Points from Mark Lavin and Ciarán Archer cut the gap to one before Johnny Keogh responded for Wicklow, who are managed by legendary former county footballer Kevin O’Brien.

An excellent Seán Foran point was followed by another by Ciarán Archer to bring the sides level, 1-4 each, by the 12^th minute.

Eoin Darcy’s successful ‘45’ put Wicklow back in front before Dublin closed out the half with points from Ciarán Archer (free), Lorcan O’Dell, Luke Swan and Kieran McKeon to lead 1-8 to 1-5 at the interval.

SCORERS – Dublin: C Archer 0-4 (0-1f), L Swan 0-3 (0-1f), A Fearon 1-0, K McKeon, P Purcell 0-2 each, M Lavin, S Foran, L O’Dell, A Murphy, R Dwyer, C O’Reilly 0-1 each. Wicklow: E Darcy 1-1 (0-1 ‘45’), M Ging 0-2, K Quinn, J Hedderman, E Byrne, J Keogh 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: J O’Neill; A Murphy, A Rafter, J Bannon; R Dwyer, A Waddick, A Fearon; K McGinnis, E Caulfield; M Lavin, L O’Dell, S Foran; C Archer, L Swan, K McKeon. Subs: A Quinn for Fearon (24), P Purcell for Foran (38), C O’Reilly for McKeon (56), L Murphy-Guinane for Lavin (58), S O’Byrne-Braiden for O’Dell (63).

WICKLOW: W Rodgers; T Moran, C O Gallobhair, C McDonald; Z Cullen, P O’Keane, G Fogarty; K Quinn, E Byrne; J Hedderman, O McGraynor, A Maher; M Ging, E Darcy, J Keogh. Subs: C Coffey for Hedderman (ht), S Daly for McGraynor (49), P Murray for Maher (49), C Maguire for Coffey (58), J Dunne for Quinn (58).

REF: J Hickey (Carlow).

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2020 EirGrid LEINSTER U20FC

First Round 1 Wicklow 1-7 Dublin 1-17; 8.2.2020 Aughrim

Quarter-final 2 Dublin v Longford 15.2.2020 Parnell Park, 2.0

First Round 3 Carlow 2-9 Wexford 3-8 7.2.2020 St Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy

Quarter-final 4 Wexford v Meath 15.2.2020 2.0

First Round 5 Louth 0-9 Offaly 2-6 8.2.2020 Dunleer–Lanneire GAA

Quarter-final 6 Offaly v Kildare 15.2.2020 2.0

Quarter-final 7 Laois v Westmeath 15.2.2020 2.0

Semi Finals

8 2 v 4 22/23.2.2020