Second Minor loss
Break before June 16 quarter-final
WEXFORD MAY have suffered a second successive defeat, this time at the hands of Dublin, in the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor hurling championship in Parnell Park, Donnycarney, on Sunday, but they are unlikely to fear the challenge should the sides meet again in the knockout stages.
This was the third and final Tier 1 encounter for both, with all four contestants guaranteed a quarter-final spot in advance and only placings to be decided.
And with a sole victory to their credit, in game one at home to Laois, the Wexford Under-17s finished third in the group and will take on either Kildare or Down next in the quarter-final on June 16.
Top scorer A.J. Redmond and fellow inside forward Paddy Whitty were kept in reserve on the bench this time, with Richie Lawlor pushed up from midfield to partner David Cantwell in the two-strong front line of attack.
Joint captain Zac Firman drifted out the field, while Jack Kirwan started at right half-back after being the roving number 14 in the first two outings.
An injury time goal from halftime substitute Redmond left a mere three points between the sides at the finish, but it must be stressed that Dublin’s shooting late on was atrocious.
Indeed, after leading by 0-15 to 0-9 in the 54th minute, they added just one more point while striking an incredible eight wides to bring their second-half tally to 13, and 15 overall.
The sides were level twice early on, with Wexford points from Cian Molloy (free) and Tomás Murphy sandwiched in between Dublin efforts from Darragh McLoughney and impressive midfielder Donal Leavy.
Dangerman Luke Swan also caught a McLoughney delivery and went for goal, but Darragh Hayes stood up well and made a fine save.
Full-back Rory Scallan ought to be well pleased with his feat in holding Swan scoreless, as his big direct opponent struck 3-1 from play at the same venue in Dublin’s loss to Kilkenny.
He was well assisted by Feidhlim Roche in bottling up the full-forward on a few occasions, and Noel Rowsome also did well on the left in what was easily Wexford’s best line on the field.
The visitors looked particularly sharp between the fifth and seventh minutes when three quickfire points from Jack Kehoe (free), Zac Firman and another Kehoe placed ball pushed them 5-2 clear.
However, Dublin gradually asserted superiority, with Leavy a dominant force at midfield, and they hit seven of the last eight points of the opening half to establish a 9-6 lead.
A Cian Molloy free in the 20th minute was the only Wexford response in that spell, although the Gorey lad also went low from a late placed ball that was knocked out for a fruitless ‘65.
Richie Lawlor also seemed to be hard done by at one stage when he soloed through but wasn’t awarded a free after a heavy challenge.
Seamus Fenton (three, one free), Donal Leavy (two), Ciarán Hogan and Darragh Power hit the points to leave Dublin with that interval advantage, and the teams shared the first six scores on the re-start.
Wexford top scorer A.J. Redmond was introduced at the break and converted two frees and a ’65, with two of those points coming on the bounce to reel the Dubs in after they moved 12-7 clear.
However, the challenge became considerably harder when Tomás Murphy was sent-off on a second yellow for a mistimed pull on Iain O hEithir at the end of the third quarter.
That numerical advantage only lasted three minutes though, because Dublin defender Adam Waddick got a straight red for catching Cian Molloy late with a flick of his hurl after the midfielder delivered a handpass.
Unfortunately, Wexford went almost 19 minutes without a score when the game was there to be won, whereas Dublin steered 16-9 clear through Ciarán Foley (with an audacious first-time pull that Darragh Hayes touched over), Aaron O’Toole and substitute Seán Foran (two) before that late show of squandermania.
The victors were also reduced to 13 men when Ciarán Hogan was dismissed with seconds left in normal time after a foul on Paddy Whitty, and A.J. Redmond’s free went over the bar via the goalkeeper’s stick.
The consolation goal was a well-worked move almost two minutes into added time. Cian Molloy managed to handpass the ball behind him as he fell to Richie Lawlor (now at midfield) who took on the defence before parting to his left to A.J. Redmond, and the Rathnure lad gave Jack Lambert no chance with a low shot.
Darragh Hayes had to make one more save before the end to keep his clean sheet, this time from Pearce Christie, and Seamus Fenton pulled the rebound wide to sum up Dublin’s late inaccuracy.
Wexford: Darragh Hayes (Oulart-The Ballagh); Feidhlim Roche (Blackwater), Rory Scallan (Ferns St. Aidan’s, joint capt.), Noel Rowsome (Monageer-Boolavogue); Jack Kirwan (Rapparees), David Codd (St. Martin’s), Eanna Doyle (Cloughbawn); Cian Molloy (Naomh Eanna, 0-2 frees), Dylan O’Neill (Shelmaliers); Owen Whitty (St. James’), Tomás Murphy (Blackwater, 0-1), Jack Kehoe (Horeswood, 0-2 frees); Richie Lawlor (Faythe Harriers), Zac Firman (St. Martin’s, joint capt., 0-1), David Cantwell (St. Martin’s). Subs. - A.J. Redmond (Rathnure, 1-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ’65) for O’Neill (HT), Paddy Whitty (Cloughbawn) for O. Whitty (45), Patrick O’Connor (Blackwater) for Kehoe (53), Shane Walsh (St. Martin’s) for Kirwan (57), also Cian Byrne (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Kevin Breen (St. Anne’s), Conr Kelly (St. Martin’s), Cian Browne (Naomh Eanna), Michael Delaney (Rapparees).
Dublin: Jack Lambert; Adam Waddick, Eoin Carney, Finn Murphy; Ciarán Hogan (0-1), Alex O’Neill (0-1 ’65), Iain O hEithir; Donal Leavy (04), Darragh Power (0-1); Darragh McLoughney (0-1), Ciarán Foley (0-2), Conor Murray; Seamus Fenton (0-3, 1 free), Luke Swan, Aaron O’Toole (0-1). Subs. - Seán Foran (0-2) for Power (52), Diarmuid Breslin for O’Toole (55), Pearce Christie for Swan (58).
Referee: Alfie Devine (Westmeath).