U21 hurlers topple Wexford

Wed, 1st June 2016

DUBLIN 2-12 WEXFORD 1-8

Two goals in quick succession early in the second half saw Dublin under-21 hurlers on their way to victory in Wednesday night’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC quarter-final at Innovate Wexford Park.

Dublin led 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval but it should have been move after they dominated the opening 30 minutes with the aid of the breeze but failed to translate opportunities into scores.

However, the direct ball into the full-forward line paid rich dividends soon after the restart.

Five minutes into the second period Seán Ryan finished clinically to the net after being left unmarked in the danger zone.

Just over a minute later a very determined Dublin repeated the feat when Seán Treacy won a long delivery from Mark McCallion before racing clear of the Wexford cover and dispatching a shot to the net to give Joe Fortune’s team a 2-8 to 0-6 advantage.

Between the 42^nd and 46^th minute Dublin added points through Eoghan Conroy and Seán Treacy (two, one free) to move 2-11 to 0-11 clear with less than 15 minutes to play.

Wexford pressurised the Dublin defence late on but the likes of Eoghan O’Donnell, the TG4 Man of the Match, put in a great shift.

The Slaneysiders, Leinster champions of the past three years, did get an injury-time goal through Conor McDonald but it was of mere consolation.

In the opening half Cathal Dunbar opened the scoring for the hosts but points from Seán Ryan, Eoghan Conroy, Seán Treacy, a Chris Bennett ‘65’, and Colm O’Neill had Dublin 0-5 to 0-1 to the good inside the opening quarter.

Dublin continued to hold the upperhand as the half developed but should have led by more at the break.

Points from Jake Malone and Mark McCallion though had Dublin 0-7 to 0-4 in front at half-time.

Dublin progress to face Westmeath in the semi-final in two weeks’ time in Parnell Park.

SCORERS - Dublin: S Treacy 1-5 (0-2f), S Ryan 1-1, E Conroy, J Malone 0-2 each, M McCallion, C Bennett ('65’) 0-1 each. Wexford: C McDonald 1-5 (0-3f, 0-1 '65’), P Foley, S Kelly, C Dunbar 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: J Treacy; J Madden, E O'Donnell, C Hendricken; J Bellew, C MacGabhann, S Barrett; J Malone, M McCallion; E Conroy, AJ Murphy, S Treacy; S Ryan, C O'Neill, C Bennett. Subs: C Boland for O'Neill (28), E McHugh for Bennett (45), F Ó Riain Broin for Murphy (48), M Cavanagh for Malone (51), K Wigglesworth for Hendricken (57)

WEXFORD: O O'Leary; S Donohoe, L Ryan, B Quigley; A Maddock, P Foley, R White; J Firman, J O'Connor; J Cash, S Kelly, C Devitt; C Dunbar, C McDonald, D Pepper. Subs: K Foley for Cash (28), B Kelly for S Kelly (38), K Sheridan for White (40), S Casey for Pepper (43), G Bailey for Devitt (48).

REF: P Burke (Kilkenny).