Super Sub Dwyer sends Wexford into provincial decider

A BRACE of second-half goals from substitute Mikie Dwyer helped Wexford to account for Dublin in their Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship quarter-final at Parnell Park last night.

The Dubs were the more fluid side in the opening half despite the concession of early points to Joe O’Connor and Aaron Maddock and they soon restored parity through Colin Currie and Donal Burke.

With Paddy Smyth and Conor Burke highly influential in the home defence, Dublin continued to impress and were rewarded through a Currie goal in the 14th minute.

However, a trio of frees from Seamus Casey offered the visitors renewed hope while Cian O’Sullivan’s late point pushed Dublin 1-8 to 0-8 clear by the interval.

A brilliant goal from O’Connor in the opening minute of the second half brought Wexford right back into contention and they gained further momentum as Dwyer netted at the end of the third quarter.

A second Currie goal offered renewed hope to Dublin in the 55th minute but Dwyer’s second goal effectively settled the issue in injury-time as Dublin scored a late consolation goal through substitute Eoghan Dunne.

SCORERS – Wexford: S Casey 0-8 (6f, 1 ‘65’), J O’Connor 1-4, M Dwyer 2-0, A Maddock, S O’Gorman, R Higgins 0-1 each. Dublin: C Currie 2-6 (4f), D Burke 0-3, E Dunne 1-0, E Conroy, D Gray (‘65’), C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

WEXFORD – J Henebery; S Barden, D Byrne, S Reck; A Maddock, D Reck, I Carthy; C Firman, R White; R O’Connor, O Foley, L Stafford; S O’Gorman, J O’Connor, S Casey. Subs: G Molloy for Firman (22), R Higgins for Barden (29), M Dwyer for Foley (43), E Kelly for Stafford (62).

DUBLIN – D Perry; S Howard, P Smyth, D Ryan; D Gray, C Burke, E Conroy; F Whitely, C Ryan; C Dowling, P Crummey, R Hayes; C O’Sullivan, D Burke, C Currie. Subs: C Costello for O’Sullivan (37), L Gannon for Dowling (47), C Hendricken for Howard (52), S Currie for Whitely (54), E Dunne for Hayes (57).

REF – D Hughes (Carlow)