Minor hurlers edged out by Wexford in extra-time

Sat, 23rd April 2016

WEXFORD 0-21 DUBLIN 1-14

(After extra-time)

Dublin's Leinster MHC ambitions hit an early hurdle when they were defeated in extra-time by Wexford in Saturday's Electric Ireland MHC second round tie at Innovate Wexford Park.

In extra-time two Rory O'Connor frees gave Wexford a 0-17 to 1-12 interval lead.

However, Dublin showed great spirit to immediately reply on the restart with Cillian Byrne and Johnny McGuirk bringing the sides level.

But unfortunately that was as good as it got for the Dubs as the Slaneysiders struck the concluding four points with Rory O'Connor (two), Conor Hearne and Eoin Kelly on target, of this pulsating contest to progress to the semi-final.

Dublin now enter the quarter-finals next Saturday when they will face Laois (3-20 to 0-9 victors over Carlow on Saturday) in Portlaoise (3.0).

In normal time the game finished in a welter of excitement.

Colin Currie's 60th minute free looked to have given Johnny McGuirk's men victory but in the first minute of added time Wexford freetaker Rory O'Connor showed good nerve to convert the equaliser and force the game into extra-time.

A Ronan Hayes goal, not long after his introduction as a sub, looked to have given Dublin winning momentum especially when Conor Burke added a point in the 46th minute as the boys in blue carved out a 1-10 to 0-9 advantage.

However, the hosts did not buckle with the freetaking of Rory O'Connor earning the Slaneysiders extra-time.

The opening half was equally matched with Ciaran Dowling's early point setting Dublin.

Neither county could establish the upperhand and two points from Cian O'Sullivan (one a '65') had Dublin trailing by the minimum, 0-4 to 0-5, after 25 minutes.

Wexford forged two points clear with half-time approaching before points from Davy Keogh and Ciaran Dowling brought Dublin level, 0-6 each, at the break in normal time.

SCORERS – Wexford: R O’Connor 0-12 (0-9f), C Hearne, C Flood 0-3 each, D Reck (1f), B O’Connor, E Kelly 0-1 each. Dublin:R Hayes 1-1; C Currie 0-4 (0-3f), C Sullivan (0-‘65’), J McGuirk (0-1f), D Gray, 0-2 each, C Burke, D Keogh, C Dowling 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: J Hennebry; C Murphy, D Byrne, E Molloy; M Codd, C Firman, G Molloy; D Reck, B O’Connor; Q Saunders, C Hearne, C Flood; R O’Connor, T Doyle, L Pender. Subs: M Doyle forDoyle (ht), L Stafford for Saunders (36), A Walsh for Pender (48), E Kelly for M Doyle (70), J Cullen for Molloy (76), T Doyle for Hearne (79).

DUBLIN: D De Poire; D Ryan, P Smyth, J O’Neill; J McVeigh, C O’Sullivan, E Foley; C Ryan, C Dowling; C Burke, J McGuirk, D Gray; S Currie, C Currie, D Keogh. Subs: M O’Keeffe for McVeigh (27), R Hayes for McGuirk (42), P Feeney for S Currie (45), A Mellett for Keogh (49), C Byrne for Ryan (55), J McGuirk for C Currie (65), C Ryan for Dowling (72), B Coffey for Burke (75).

REF: A Devine (Westmeath).