LAST UPDATE | 23 Apr 2022

Wexford 0-23

Dublin 0-24

A HEFTY 0-12 from Donal Burke helped Dublin hold out under a passionate Wexford rally in Saturday’s second round Leinster SHC encounter at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

The Sky Blues held the whip-hand for much of the 70 minutes, and they appeared destined to race clear when leading 0-20 to 0-14 after 52 minutes.

But they had to survive a couple of goaling threats as Wexford eventually went within moments of adding to their first round draw against Galway.

However, defeat heaps pressure on Darragh Egan’s charges as they head into a three-game programme on the road against Laois, Westmeath and arch rivals Kilkenny to extend their interests beyond the group stages.

Dublin, meanwhile, will be confident of adding to their successive victories when they face a Westmeath side now managed by former Dublin underage supremo Joe Fortune.

Donal Burke maintained his reliable form as Dublin bossed the opening quarter against Wexford to gain a 0-7 to 0-2 advantage with the strong wind at their backs.

Wexford were struggling to gain any purchase upfront, although Rory O’Connor made light of his subdued effort a week earlier to pose lots of danger.

He fired a couple of frees to help close the gap to 0-8 to 0-6 after 26 minutes.

While Dublin led 0-12 to 0-9 entering the closing stages, rejuvenated Wexford almost bridged the gap when Diarmuid O’Keeffe picked out Rory O’Connor, who lost his marker before crossing to Conor McDonald, whose angled goaling effort flew wide.

And a seventh Donal Burke score – fourth from a free – had the Dubs leading 0-13 to 0-9 at the break.

Blows were exchanged during a pulsating start to the second-half, before Aidan Mellett, Ríain McBride, Conor Burke, Donal Burke and Fergal Whitley appeared to have Dublin coasting by 0-20 to 0-14 after 52 minutes.

But they then had a couple of major let offs as Rory O’Connor twice endangered their net – firstly, forcing a save and winning a penalty, which was saved from Mark Fanning by opposing stopper Seán Brennan.

And O’Connor was in again moments later when Conor McDonald gathered a Damien Reck clearance and fed his fellow gunslinger, whose drive yielded a ‘65 pointed by super-sub from the previous week, Lee Chin (0-20 to 0-15).

Damien Reck was heroic for Wexford, crafting a couple of outstanding points, and fellow defender Simon Donohoe and Chin (free) had it back to 0-21 to 0-17 before Dublin lost corner-back Cian O’Callaghan to a second yellow-card in the 59th minute.

Dublin reasserted by 0-24 to 0-20 with two minutes of normal-time left courtesy of Chris Crummey, Fergal Whitley and Donal Burke (free).

But Wexford fought to the bitter end, and three Chin frees got them within the minimum only to fall just shy of rescuing a draw.

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-12 (8 frees), Ronan Hayes, Conor Burke, Ríain McBride, Fergal Whitely 0-2 each, Eoghan O’Donnell, Donnacha Ryan, Aidan Mellett, Chris Crummey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-7 (6 frees, 1 ‘65), Rory O’Connor 0-5 (4 frees), Mark Fanning (frees), Damien Reck 0-3 each, Connal Flood, Liam Óg McGovern, Conor McDonald, Simon Donohoe, Diarmuid O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Dublin

1 Seán Brennan (Cuala)

2 John Bellew (Lucan Sarsfields), 3 Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), 4 Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)

5 Donnacha Ryan (St. Brigid’s), 6 Paddy Smyth (Clontarf), 7 James Madden (Ballyboden St. Enda’s)

8 Conor Burke (St. Vincent’s), 9 Chris Cummey (Lucan Sarsfields)

10 Donal Burke (Na Fianna), 11 Rian McBride (St. Vincent’s), 12 Danny Sutcliffe (St. Jude’s)

13 Aidan Mellett (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), 14 Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes), 15 Fergal Hartley (Kilmacud Crokes)

Subs:

23 Davy Keogh (Thomas Davis) for C. Burke (60)

24 Paul Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields) for Whitely (69)

22 Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra) for Hayes (70+2)

Wexford

1 Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)

2 Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers), 3 Liam Ryan (Rapparees), 4 Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)

5 Connal Flood (Cloughbawn), 6 Pádraig Foley (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), 7 Matthew O’Hanlon (St. James’)

8 Liam Óg McGovern (St. Anne’s), 9 Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St. Anne’s)

10 Oisín Cullen (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), 11 Kevin Foley (Rapparees), 12 Charlie McGuckin (Naomh Eanna)

13 Rory O’Connor (St. Martin’s), 14 Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna), 15 Mikie Dwyer (Fethard)

Subs

21 Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna) for K Foley (HT)

18 Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers) for Dwyer (42)

26 Oisín Pepper (Rapparees) for O. Foley (64)

23 Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers) McGuckin (70+1)

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).

First published 6.42pm, updated with full report to appear on The Journal at 8.28pm.