SFC - Dublin 2-16 Wexford 0-15 (AET)

DUBLIN 2-16 WEXFORD 0-15


The heavens opened but nothing could stop the relief and pleasure of Dublin fans who had seen their team brilliantly fight back from a 7 point deficit to win through to a Leinster Final.

How black things looked at half time when the Dubs trailed by 0-08 to 0-02. Over this 1st half the Dubs looked lost, passes went astray, failing to mark their men turning over possession on so many occasions and soaked to the skin after ongoing rain. The Metropolitans lost influential CHB Cian O’Sullivan through injury after only 5 minutes and after Ger Brennan & Eamonn Fennell had picked up yellow cards, the boss also had to pull the O’Tooles man off. In this period Matty Forde had consistently kicked his teams frees over while the Dubs missed a couple which should have been scored.

Pat rang further changes. Eoghan O’Gara brought in pace on the full forward line at the expense of Kevin Mac while Michael McAuley would be thrown on 10 minutes later. There was an initial improvement when the Dubs kicked a point but shortly would see themselves trailing 0-10 to 0-03! The Dubs then upped their game and Alan Brogan, who was proving very influential, kicked a point along with 2 from the Swords man before disaster as Bastick saw red when he ran through a Wexford opponent.

Cometh the hour and Berno picked up a lovely pass from Conal & kicked under the onrushing Yellow Belly keeper & the sides were level. The sides exchanged points before disaster again when Ger Brennan was sent to the line on a 2nd tallow after what seemed an innocuous tackle. Thankfully the whistle blew & the sides were off for a break before extra time.

Giller made more changes & brought on the experienced Bryan Cullen & Mossy Quinn. And the game was effectively over when a shot from Mossy came off the upright into the arms of Berno who knocked in his 2nd goal of the day. Credit too to Bryan Cullen who ended up at the end of a lovely passing move before kicking over beautifully in front of the Cusach Stand.

Mossy kept up the pressure with a 4 point cameo & when the whistle finally went the Dubs had won by 7 points. A great fight back from a spirited team.

One sour note on the day was the booing of a section of the crowd at half time in normal time. But the true blue fans reacted brilliantly when the team returned & roared on the boys as they prepared to kick into the Hill. For those who booed, hang your heads in shame & don’t bother turning up the next day. With the Royallers & Laois drawing it will be another few days before the Dubs know who they will meet in the semi final in 2 weeks.

Dublin – Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Philip McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams), Denis Bastick (Templeogue/SS) (Sent Off (55) (Tomas Quinn (St. Vincents) (70) (0-04)), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes) (Ger Brennan (St. Vincents) (5) Sent Off (69) (Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps) (70) (0-01)), Barry Cahill (St. Brigids), Eamonn Fennell (O’Tooles) (Alan Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER) (20) (0-02)), R McConnell (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER), Niall Corkery (Kilmacud Crokes) (Eamonn Fennell (O’Tooles) (75)), David Henry (Raheny) (Michael McAuley (Ballyboden St. Endas) (45)), Paul Flynn (Fingallians) (0-01) (Kevin Nolan (Kilmacud Crokes) (80) (0-01)), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St. Endas) (0-03), Bernard Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER) (2-04) (Paddy Andrews (St. Brigids) (89)), Kevin McManamon (St. Judes) (Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue/SS) (35)).

Subs not used: Michael Savage (St. Vincents), James Brogan (St. Brigids), Paul Conlon (St. Vincents), James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Hugh Gill (St. Vincents), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes), Diarmuid Connolly (St. Vincents).

Wexford - A Masterson, J Wadding, G Molloy, B Malone, A Flynn (0-01), D Murphy, A Doyle (A Morrissey (55)), D Waters (D Fogarty (50)), E Bradley (0-01) (B Doyle (70)), S Roche (0-02), M Forde (0-07), C Morris (B Brosnan (80)), C Lyng (0-01), R Barry (0-02), PJ Banville (0-01).