Dublin 3-19
Wexford 0-15

Dublin got their promotion charge from Division 1B back on track when they crushed Wexford by 13 points this afternoon in Wexford Park.

After last week’s disappointing defeat against Limerick in Croke Park, Anthony Daly’s side bounced back in style on their trip to the south-east.

They now look set face off against Limerick in the Division 1B final on April 7th after this afternoon’s results.

A draw will suffice for Dublin in their last match against relegation-threatened Carlow next Sunday and even if they lose that game, they could still have enough in reserve to progress.

Dublin exploded from the blocks in the opening stages with David O’Callaghan and Conor McCormack both finding the net in the first-half.

They strung together some neat points as well to surge ahead by 2-12 to 0-4 at the interval. The Dubs maintained their control after the break and were still in front by 2-16 to 0-8 when Danny Sutcliffe pointed in the 46th minute.

Eoin Moore was on target to help reduce the arrears for Wexford but substitute Eamonn Dillon got in for the third goal of the game to seal Dublin’s triumph.

The results puts paid to Wexford’s promotion hopes and consigns them to life in Division 1B for another season while Dublin will be hopeful that they can return to life in Division 1A after being relegated last year.

Scorers for Dublin: David O’Callaghan, Conor McCormack 1-3 each, David Treacy 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ’65), Danny Sutcliffe 0-3, Eamonn Dillon 1-0, Kevin Byrne 0-2, Joey Boland, Simon Lambert 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Paul Morris (0-2f), Gary Moore (0-1 ’65, 0-1f) 0-3 each, Eanna Martin (0-2f), Rory Jacob, Eoin Quigley 0-2 each, David Redmond, Harry Kehoe, Garrett Sinnott 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: Gary Maguire (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields), Paul Schutte (Cuala), Ruairi Treanor (St Vincent’s); Michael Carton (St Vincent’s), Liam Rushe (St Pat’s Palmerstown), Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Joey Boland (Na Fianna), Simon Lambert (Ballyboden St Enda’s); John McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields), Kevin Byrne (Crumlin), Danny Sutcliffe (St Judes); David Treacy (Cuala), David O’Callaghan (St Mark’s), Conor McCormack (Ballyboden St Enda’s).

Subs: Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Byrne, Eamonn Dillon (Naomh Fionbarra) for O’Callaghan, Sean McGrath (Kilmacud Crokes) for Sutcliffe, Ross O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes) for Treacy, Stephen Hiney (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Carton.

WEXFORD: Niall Breen (Tara Rocks); Bobby Kenny (Buffers Alley), Andrew Shore (Parnells, Dublin), Eoin Doyle (Shelmaliers); Eanna Martin (Sarsfields, Cork), Richie Kehoe (Faythe Harriers), Ciaran Kenny (Buffers Alley); David Redmond (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn); PJ Nolan (Askamore-Kilrush), Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Eoin Quigley (Sarsfields, Cork); Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s), Rory Jacob (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Ciaran O’Shaughnessy (Shelmaliers).

Subs: Gary Moore (Glynn-Barntown) for Nolan, Michael O’Regan (Glynn-Barntown) for Morris, Willie Devereux (St Martin’s) for B Kenny, Stephen Murphy (St Martin’s) for Redmond.

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Dublin manager Anthony Daly.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

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Limerick 0-21
Offaly 3-8

Limerick staged a second-half comeback to claim honours over Offaly this afternoon in Tullamore. In the process they maintained their unbeaten record and ensured they will contest this year’s Division 1B final on April 7th.

It was a remarkable win for John Allen’s side after they had trailed by eight points by the 10th minute and were still five points in arrears at half-time.

But they overcame that deficit in O’Connor Park against an Offaly team that only registered 1-1 in the second-half and were reduced to 14 men before the finish when Colin Egan was shown a second yellow card.

Offaly, who need to win to preserve their chances of being promoted from Division 1B, got off to a superb start when Shane Dooley crashed the ball to the net twice inside the opening ten minutes.

Offaly’s star marksman raised the first green flag from a penalty and the second from play as they lead by 2-3 to 0-1. Dooley kept the scoreboard ticking over as Offaly lead 2-7 to 0-5 with ten minutes remaining but despite facing the wind, Limerick managed to register the last three points of the half from Kevin Downes, Declan Hannon and Conor Allis.

Limerick took over in the second-half and hit the first five points of the second-half with Wayne McNamara’s 47th minute point tying the teams at 2-7 to 0-13.

Graeme Mulcahy and Conor Allis then registered points to push Limerick in front by two but Offaly received a lifeline when Colin Egan raised their third green flag of the game in the 54th minute to send them back in front.

But they couldn’t build on that strike as Limerick rattled off a series of late points to clinch victory as Offaly’s woes were compounded by Egan’s dismissal.

Scorers for Limerick: Declan Hannon (0-4), Conor Allis (0-2f), Graeme Mulcahy 0-4 each, Kevin Downes 0-3, Paul Browne, Seamus Hickey 0-2 each, Gavin O’Mahony, Wayne McNamara 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), Colin Egan 1-0, Cathal Parlon, Brian Carroll 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Nicky Quaid (Effin); Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Shane O’Neill (South Liberties); Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock), Wayne McNamara (Adare), Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock); Paul Browne (Bruff), James Ryan (Garryspillane); David Breen (Na Piarsaigh), Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher), Conor Allis (Croom); Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh), Declan Hannon (Adare), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock).

Subs: Mark Carmody (Patrickswell) for O’Neill (25), Tommy Quaid (Effiin) for Breen (65)

OFFALY: James Dempsey (Kinnity); Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels), David Kenny (Belmont), Paul Cleary (Birr); Derek Morkan (Shinrone), Rory Hanniffy (Birr), Kevin Brady (Coolderry); Brian Carroll (Coolderry), Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Colin Egan (Belmont), Conor Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Thomas Carroll (Seir Kieran); Shane Dooley (Tullamore), Cathal Parlon (Coolderry), Sean Ryan (Birr).

Subs: James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran) for Parlon (47), Ger Healion (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Ryan (50), Tomas Bolger (Birr) for T Carroll (65), Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran) for Slevin (65).

Ref: Alan Kelly (Galway).

Limerick’s Kevin Downes.
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

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Antrim 3-14
Carlow 0-13

Antrim secured their first win in their hurling league campaign with this comfortable victory over Carlow in Dr Cullen Park this afternoon.

The Saffrons laid the foundations for their win in the first-half with Neil McManus striking a goal after just four minutes while Shane McNaughton also raised a green flag in the opening period.

Antrim were ahead 2-12 to 0-4 at half-time before Carlow hit back with six successive points in the second-half.  Stephen Beatty scored an injury-time goal to seal the victory for Antrim.

The result strengthen’s Antrim’s case to avoid the drop of Division 2A while Carlow must get something out of their final game next Sunday against Dublin to avoid relegation.