U20 footballers face familiar opponents in Wicklow

Wed, 7th July 2021

Dublin's under-20 footballers host Wicklow this Thursday night in their EirGrid Leinster U20FC quarter-final at Parnell Park (7.30).

The counties clashed in the 2020 U20 provincial championship in Aughrim when the Dubs came out on top.

Many of the players in both panels will be familiar with each other having also played against each other in the Leinster MFC in 2018 and 2019 - the Garden County winning in '18 while the Dubs prevailed the following year.

Here we look back on those encounters.

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2020 LEINSTER U20FC FIRST ROUND
DUBLIN 1-17 WICKLOW 1-7

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

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 54th and 55th 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 12th 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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2019 LEINSTER MFC QUARTER-FINAL
DUBLIN 0-20 WICKLOW 1-9

Dublin progress to the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC semi-final (against Westmeath) courtesy of this quarter-final victory at Joule Park, Aughrim.

An impressive first half-showing laid the platform for Dublin’s success as they led 0-12 to 0-3 at the interval.

It was an advantage Dublin extended early in the second half following points from Alex Rogers, Fionn Murray and Clann Mhuire lad Rogers again to move 0-15 to 0-3.

Wicklow did work a promising situation in the third minute of the second half but Dublin full-back Ben Millist anticipated the danger and executed an important interception to avert trouble in front of his own goal.

Dublin had to withstand a sustained period of Wicklow pressure as the half progressed as the Garden County threw caution to the wind.

A 49th minute goal from wing-forward Joe Prendergast cut the deficit to 0-16 to 1-6 and four minutes later Wicklow were awarded a penalty after an umpire brought referee Seamus Mulhare’s attention to an alleged off the ball incident.

Thankfully from a Dublin perspective keeper Hugh O’Sullivan saved Mathew Ging’s spotkick, his second penalty save of the championship following one in the last game against Offaly, but the danger was not fully averted with Ging getting a second chance but impressive corner-back Conor Tyrell was back on the line to make a fine save.

Wicklow continued to pile on the pressure with Shane Daly adding a point before Dublin broke their hosts' momentum with a fine Ross Keogh point following good work by Senan Forker.

Dublin could have goaled themselves in the 60th minute but Luke Curran and then Luke Swan were both denied by the crossbar.

Three minutes into added time Luke Swan pointed for Dublin with sub Luke Curran adding two points before the finish as Dublin ran out eight-point victors.

In the opening half the early exchanges were very evenly balanced but four points without reply by Dublin between the tenth and 14th minute gave them confidence with frees from Fionn Murray (two) and Ryan O’Dwyer and one from play from Seán Kinsella.

Dublin again hit a rich scoring vein from the midpoint of the half with Murray converting a ‘45’, Robbie Bolger, following hard graft from Senan Forker, and Alex Rogers all on target.

The young Dubs put some very enterprising moves together at this stage showing good patience at times to pick the right passes when in attack mode.

Dublin, in fact, scored seven points in-a-row with Ryan O’Dwyer firingover after a clever pass from Luke Swan and two Alex Rogers points, the second at the end of good interplay between Luke Murphy-Guinane and Robbie Bolger, to lead 0-12 to 0-3 at half-time.

SCORERS – Dublin: F Murray 0-6 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘45’), A Rogers 0-4, R O’Dwyer 0-3 (0-2f), L Curran 0-2, L Murphy-Guinane, S Kinsella, R Bolger, L Swan, R Keogh 0-1 each. Wicklow: S Daly 0-4, J Prendergast 1-1, M Ging 0-3 (0-2f), T Keogh 0-1.
DUBLIN: H O'Sullivan; C Tyrell, B Millist, C Archer; J Lundy, D O'Dowd, K Conroy; L Murphy-Guinane, S Forker; R O'Dwyer, S Kinsella, F Murray; R Bolger, L Swan, A Rogers. Subs: T Brennan for Kinsella (36), R Keogh for O'Dwyer (38), J Rooney for Lundy (43), L Curran for Bolger (45), H Colclough for Murphy-Guinane (62).
WICKLOW: A Nolan; D Healy, S Kearney, J Brady; D Cooney, T Moran, B Hickey; A Daly Danne, C McDonald; L Harney, S Daly, J Prendergast; E Doyle, J Kirwan, M Ging. Subs: E O'Neill for Kirwan (ht), C Fulham for Brady (ht), T Shanahan for Cooney (36), T Keogh for Kearney (50).
REF: S Mulhare (Laois).

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2018 LEINSTER MFC ROUND-ROBIN PHASE

WICKLOW 2-6 DUBLIN 0-8

Dublin minor footballers' hopes of qualification out of Leinster MFC Group 1 were rocked by their four-point defeat to Wicklow in sweltering conditions at Parnell Park.

The Garden County, with this well-merited victory, leap-frogged over both Offaly and Dublin into second spot in the table with one round of games remaining.

The concession of two first-half goals left Dublin chasing the game in the second-half as the Garden County led 2-4 to 0-4 at the break.

Wicklow made a great start with points from Matthew Ging and Seán Doody with Kevin Quinn's 11th minute goal giving the visitors an early 1-2 to 0-1 lead after Mark Lavin had opened the night's scoring for Dublin.

Points from Lavin again, Liam McGovern and Matthew Dunne kept Dublin very much in touch but Wicklow finished the opening period on the up with a goal from Eoin Darcy in the 27th minute, the perfect lift before the break.

Dublin had what wind advantage was going in the second period and dominated in terms of possession with Wicklow operating on the counter-attack.

However, Wicklow's use of a sweeper, greater tenacity and ball-winning prowess around midfield left Dublin with a lot to do in the second half.

The Dubs came strong at the finish in a game that was stopped throughout the second half with Wicklow players suffering from cramp but the Garden County defence held strong.

Points from Robbie Bolger, Conor Murray and Enda Cashman cut the deficit but Dublin's night was summarised by Seán Guiden's late goal attempt hitting the upright as Dublin laid siege to the Wicklow goal.

Minutes earlier Bolger, a second half sub, also had a one-on-one goal opportunity but was denied from close range.

SCORERS – Wicklow: M Ging 0-4 (0-2f), K Quinn, E Darcy 1-0 each, S Doody, J Fleming Foran 0-1 each. Dublin: M Lavin, E Cashman 0-2 each, M Dunne, L McGovern, C Murray, R Bolger 0-1 each.
WICKLOW: B Fennell; F O’Carroll, S Kearney, T Moran; K Quinn, O Cullen, G Fogarty; E Byrne, S Doody; A Barrett, C Maguire, J Keogh; M Ging, E Darcy, A Foley. Subs: C McDonald for Barrett (49), C Grimes for Byrne (52), J Fleming Foran for Ging (58), S Cranley for Doody (62).
DUBLIN: S Bohan; E Farquharson, A Fearon, A Rafter; M O’Leary, E Cashman, M Lavin; S Foran, E Adamson; C Hennessy, M Dunne, L McGovern; S Guiden, L Swan, D Smith. Subs: D McLoughney for McGovern (ht), C McManus for Dunne (ht), C Murray for Hennessy (ht), R Bolger for Smith (40), M Grogan for Farquharson (44), L Dunne for Grogan (53, BC).
REF: D Fedigan (Louth).

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2021 EirGrid Leinster U20FC

Round 1

1 Westmeath 1-15 Kildare 1-13 1.7.2021 St Conleth's Park, Newbridge

2 Longford 4-11 Louth 3-13 1.7.2021 Haggardstown

3 Wicklow 2-11 Laois 2-8 1.7.2021 Aughrim

4 Wexford 2-9 Carlow 0-8 1.7.2021 Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

Quarter-finals (Dublin, four winners Rd 1, plus Offaly as 2020 Leinster MFC runners-up)

5 Longford v Westmeath 8.7.2021 7.30pm Glennon Bros Pearse Park

6 Offaly v Wexford 8.7.2021 7.30pm Chadwicks Wexford Park

7 Dublin v Wicklow 8.7.2021 7.30pm Parnell Park

Semi-finals (Round 2 winners, plus Meath as 2020 Leinster MFC winners)