Senior Hurlers overcome Wexford in Dioralyte Walsh Cup

DUBLIN 2-17 

WEXFORD 1-11

A dominant final quarter proved pivotal as Dublin accounted for Wexford by nine points in their Dioralyte Walsh Cup quarter-final at the Oulart-the-Ballagh grounds on Thursday night. 

The conditions mitigated against free-flowing hurling on a cold, damp and blustery evening but the visitors held the ascendancy for the large part as they pulled away to secure a semi-final meeting with Westmeath on Sunday. 

The visitors enjoyed a 1-10 to 1-5 interval lead with Ollie Gaffney netting for Dublin in the 21st minute before Tomás Kinsella replied with a fine strike at the opposite end three minutes later. 

The hosts responded well after the break to limit their deficit to two points by the end of the third quarter but a well-taken goal from substitute Joe Flanagan saw the Dubs ease home by the final whistle. 

Dublin made the most of the elements in their favour initially as they opened up a two-point lead in as many minutes following scores by Ronan Hayes and Darragh Power. 

A Cian O’Sullivan free extended the away lead before Wexford, who dropped a number of shots short into the breeze, finally opened their account through Kevin Foley in the 10thminute. 

Ross Banville and O’Sullivan (free) exchanged scores as Conor Groarke, who excelled in Sunday’s win over Carlow, drove forward from corner-back to push Dublin three points clear by the end of the first quarter. 

Foley and Banville were the pick of the home attack and they doubled their personal tallies before the latter converted a free to bring the sides level at 0-5 apiece in the 21st minute. 

Dublin regained the initiative soon after as Brian Hayes and O’Sullivan combined to release Gaffney, who cut inside before firing clinically past Mark Fanning from eight yards. 

Conor Donohoe and O’Sullivan (free) pushed Dublin further clear before Kinsella availed of a poor clearance from Eddie Gibbons to find the top corner of the Dublin net. 

However, the Dubs finished the half as they had started as a brace of O’Sullivan frees and a Conor Burke point moved them five points clear by the turnaround.

The hosts wasted little time in reducing their arrears thanks to a brace of fine scores by Eoin Whelan but Dublin continued to provide a threat at the opposite end thanks to points from Davy Keogh and O’Sullivan (free). 

Scorers by Conor Foley, Banville, James Byrne and Kevin Foley hinted at a grandstand finish but the latter’s point in the 45th minute proved Wexford’s final score of the contest as their challenge petered out. 

In contrast, Dublin looked re-energised by their impact from the bench as they reestablished their control through successive scores by Burke, Flanagan and Ronan Hayes by the 52ndminute. 

Their passage to the last four was confirmed as debutant Darragh Kenny showed great composure to pick out Flanagan and the Naomh Barróg player popped an improvised finish beyond Fanning to complete an impressive win.      

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Sullivan 0-6 (6f); J Flanagan 1-2 (0-1f); R Hayes 0-3; O Gaffney 1-0; C Burke 0-2 (1f); D Power, C Groarke, C Donohoe, D Keogh 0-1 apiece. Wexford: R Banville 0-4 (2f); K Foley 0-3; T Kinsella 1-0; E Whelan 0-2; C Foley, J Byrne 0-1 apiece. 

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, A Dunphy, C Groarke; C Murray, P Smyth, C Burke; B Hayes, S Gallagher; J Madden, D Power, C Donohoe; O Gaffney, R Hayes, C O’Sullivan. Subs: D Keogh for Gallagher (half-time), J Flanagan for Madden (half-time), C Kennedy for B Hayes(half-time), T Brennan for Gaffney (half-time), L Mostyn for O’Sullivan (45), E McLoughney for Bellew (45), D Kenny for Donohoe (48), N Clerkin for Murray (49), C Boyle for R Hayes (57), N Hogan for Power (57).  

Wexford: M Fanning; N Murphy, C Foley, D Carley; E Wickham, R Lawlor, E Whelan; C Byrne Dunbar, S Rowley; R Banville, J Redmond, M Kelly; C Regan, K Foley, T Kinsella. Subs: J Byrne for Redmond (half-time), D Farrell for Rowley (44), D Fenlon for Whelan (46), E Dunbar for Regan (47), O Pepper for Kinsella (60), T O’Connor for Banville (61). 

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).