Minor hurlers crowned Leinster champions

Sun, 3rd July 2016

DUBLIN 2-12 WEXFORD 0-12

Dublin minor hurlers are Leinster champions after finishing strongly to defeat Wexford in Sunday’s provincial final at Croke Park.

Second-half goals from Johnny McGuirk and the influential Donal Burke separated the sides as Johnny McGuirk’s men progress to an All-Ireland semi-final.

Dublin led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break but had to come from behind to defy the Slaneysiders down the home straight.

Johnny McGuirk junior, son of the manager, got Dublin’s first goal in the 54^th minute and four minutes later Burke struck the the match-winner following good work by Peter Feeney.

Wexford finished with 14 men after Rory O'Connor was red-carded as Dublin went on to celebrate victory.

Wexford started the better with points from Jack Cullen and O’Connor with Dublin responding with two deadballs from Colin Currie.

In the sixth minute Dublin keeper Dara De Poire made a superb save to deny Rory O’Connor.

By the break inspired by Burke the Dubs had their noses in front 0-8 to 0-6 after the Na Fianna man fired over three fine points.

SCORERS– Dublin: D Burke 1-3, C Currie 0-5 (0-2f, 0-2 ‘65’), J McGuirk 1-1, C Burke, C Dowling, J Walsh 0-1 each. Wexford: R O’Connor 0-5 (0-2f), D Reck 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Flood 0-2, J Cullen, G Molloy 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: D De Poire; J O’Neill, P Smyth, D Ryan; J McVeigh, C O’Sullivan, E Foley; C Ryan, D Gray; C Burke, J McGuirk, D Burke; C Currie, C Dowling, M O’Keeffe. Subs: R Hayes for O’Keeffe (35), D Hawkshaw for McVeigh (40), J Walsh for Gray (41), D Keogh for C Ryan (50), P Feeney for Currie (56).

WEXFORD: J Henebry; C Murphy, D Byrne, E Molloy; G Molloy, C Firman, J Cullen; D Reck, B O’Connor; L Stafford, C Flood, A Walsh; R O’Connor, C Hearne, Q Saunders. Subs: E Kelly for B O’Connor (44), M Codd for Walsh (50), L Pender for Saunders (59).

REF: P Burke (Kilkenny)