Senior footballers exit O’Byrne Cup as Wexford strike late for victory

WEXFORD 1-12 DUBLIN 0-14

Two late scores from the Slaneysiders saw the hosts edge out Dublin in this Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup clash at St Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy on Sunday afternoon.

The Dubs were facing the prospect of beating Wexford by a massive score before throw-in if they had a chance of progressing, by half-time that was a very distant prospect and by the finish Wexford's late flourish ensured they took the spoils.

Dublin trailed 1-9 to 0-6 at half-time yet made a very spirited second half comeback to nose in front with a point from sub Kevin Callaghan as the game ticked into injury-time but Wexford battled back to claim victory with two late, late scores.

While Dublin had kept the home team to a single point in the second half Wexford managed to engineer two late points to secure victory as Offaly top the group and progress to the semi-final.

Over two minutes into injury-time, Craig McCabe converted a free into the wind and just under two minutes later Barry O'Connor burst through the middle and his right-footed effort from 30 metres was waved as a point.

Down by six points at the break Emmett Ó Conghaile kickstarted Dublin's comeback with two fine points midway through the second half.

With Brian Howard and ColmBasquel lifting the display of their side Dublin hit five points without reply to draw level with Basquel's excellent 61st minute equalizer.

Callaghan's score from 30 metre put Dublin in front but it was Wexford who had the final say with their two late scores.

SCORERS - Wexford: C McCabe 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 '45'), D Waters 1-0, B O'Connor, C Devereux (0-2f) 0-2 each, B Malone, G Malone, T Rossiter, R Frayne 0-1 each. Dublin: C Basquel 0-5 (0-5f), P Small 0-3 (0-2f), E O Conghaile 0-2, G O'Reilly, A Rogers, B Howard, K Callaghan 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: P Doyle; J Rossiter, M O’Neill, C Carty; B O’Gorman, B Malone, G Malone; D Waters, N Doyle; T Rossiter, B O’Connor, R Frayne; C McCabe, P Curtis, C Devereux. Subs: J Stafford for Frayne (50), B Brosnan for Waters (54), D Holmes for Devereux (60), E Nolan for Stafford (inj, 65), D Pepper for Curtis (65), A Nolan for Carty (inj, 67).

DUBLIN: JB Carty; R McGowan, C Wilson, E O’Brien; D Devereux, S McMahon, G Hannigan; E O Conghaile, S Ryan; G Seaver, C Basquel, G O’Reilly; A Rogers, B Howard, P Small. Subs: S Carthy for Ryan (inj, 27), R Deegan for S Carthy (inj, ht), A McGowan for O’Reilly (ht), D Kennedy for R McGowan (ht), C Doyle for Hannigan (45), K Callaghan for Devereux (48), T Quinn for Seaver (48), C Carthy for Rogers (57), N Walsh for C Carthy (inj, 72).

REF: D Hickey (Carlow).