Senior hurlers edged out by Wexford in frenetic finish

WEXFORD 0-22 DUBLIN 2-14

For the second weekend in-a-row Dublin hurlers were edged out in a frenetic finish as hosts Wexford hit three points in added time to claim victory in this Leinster SHC round-robin duel in Innovate Wexford Park.

The Dubs had come with a storming finish to nose in front 2-14 to 0-19 as the game ticked into added time but through two Rory O'Connor points - one free and the other a monstrous 90-metre point from play - and an insurance score from Harry Kehoe Wexford sealed victory in front of an attendance of 10,228.

The Slaneysiders looked to be getting on top by the midpoint of the second half as they moved into a 0-16 to 1-9 lead and then Alan Nolan pulled off his second fine save of the encounter to deny Rory O'Connor, a goal then might have sunk Dublin but back the Dubs came with a Cian Boland score.

But from the 24th minute of the second half Dublin raised their game with a Paul Ryan free and three minutes later the Ballyboden St Enda's clinically finished to the net to make it 0-18 to 2-11.

Points from Liam Rushe and Danny Sutcliffe put the Dubs in front for only the third time in the game, 2-13 to 0-18, by the 66th minute.

The influential Rory O'Connor levelled it for Wexford with a 70-metre free in the final minute of normal time before Dublin sub David Treacy fired over from a tight angle to give his side the lead again.

But similar to last weekend's loss to Kilkenny the late vital scores all came from the opponents with O'Connor and Kehoe getting the winning scores.

The Dubs are idle next weekend before they host Offaly the following week in Parnell Park before travelling to Salthill to face Galway in the last round of games in the group.

Wexford led by the minimum at the half-time break, 0-10 to 1-6, thanks to two converted Rory O'Connor frees late in the half.

O'Connor's deadball accuracy was central to the Slaneysiders interval advantage as he was successful with seven out of eight attempts.

In a hotly-contest physical battle, where both defences were on top, scores from play were at a premium at both ends.

Paul Ryan converted four frees during the opening 35 minutes but it was the Dubs who got the only goal of the half when Rian McBride applied the finish after Paul Ryan's initial attempt was blocked by Wexford full-back Liam Ryan.

McBride's goal arrived in the 13th minute to bring Dublin level, 1-2 to 0-5, but Wexford responded with the next two scores through O'Connor, a free from 65 metres, and a fine point from play by wing-back Paudie Foley.

Two Paul Ryan frees had Dublin level, 0-7 to 1-4, by the 20th minute as neither side could establish any dominance in the contest.

Just after the half hour mark points in quick succession from Jake Malone and Paddy Smyth, after he combined with Seán Moran, pushed Pat Gilroy's men into a 1-6 to 0-8 lead after 32 minutes.

Alan Nolan did well to prevent a Wexford goal when the stopped Paul Morris following good skill from Conor McDonald.

But it was the home side who got the last two scores of the opening period with O'Connor slotting two frees to edge in front in added time, 0-10 to 1-6.

SCORERS - Wexford: R O'Connor 0-12 (0-11f), L Chin, P Foley (0-1f) 0-2 each, P Morris, J O'Connor, A Nolan, D O'Keeffe, K Foley, H Kehoe 0-1 each. Dublin: P Ryan 1-7 (0-6f, 0-1 '65'), R McBride 1-1, J Malone, P Smyth, C Boland, L Rushe, D Sutcliffe, D Treacy 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: M Fanning; D Reck, L Ryan, S Donohoe; S Murphy; D O'Keeffe, P Foley, M O'Hanlon; K Foley, A Nolan; L Chin, R O'Connor, J O'Connor; P Morris, C McDonald. Subs: H Kehoe for McDonald (55), C Dunbar for Morris (62).

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, C O'Callaghan, B O'Carroll; C Crummey, S Moran, E O'Donnell; J Malone, S Barrett; R McBride, F Mac Gib, D Sutcliffe; F Whitely, L Rushe, P Ryan. Subs: T Connolly for Barrett (44), C Boland for Whitely (44), D Treacy for O'Carroll (52), R Hayes for McBride (60), P Winters for Mac Gib (70).

REF: C Lyons (Cork).