Dublin progress to Leinster U20 hurling semi-finals after four-point win over Wexford
Leinster U20 HC quarter-final: Dublin 0-18 Wexford 0-14
Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing
Dublin progressed to the semi-finals of the ONeills.com Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship after overcoming Wexford by four points at Parnell Park on Wednesday evening.
With defences very much on top in the first-half, both teams took their time to settle as Dublin’s Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing and Wexford’s Seán Rowley traded early frees.
Two excellent points from Neil Hogan saw Dublin gain a marginal advantage in the first quarter but a trio of Rowley points saw the visitors back on level terms by the 20th minute.
Wexford edged in front through a superb score from deep by full-back Eoin Whelan soon after and two further Rowley frees opened up a two-point lead with five minutes of the half remaining.
However, Dublin finished the half on the front foot as another Hogan score and a brace of Ó Dúlaing frees saw them enter the break with a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 advantage.
The contest continued to remain tight upon the resumption as Eamonn Wickham and Cathal Parker kept Wexford in touch following a brace of points in quick succession by Jamie Conroy.
The contest turned irrevocably towards the hosts at the start of the final quarter as Ó Dúlaing clipped over a trio of scores and with Ollie Gaffney also on target, they pushed four points clear by the 49th minute.
With Conal Ó Riain impressing when redeployed to a sweeper role, Dublin saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort with two cracking Kenny points ensuring their progression to the last four.
Scorers – Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing 0-9 (7f, 1 ‘65’); N Hogan, J Conroy 0-3 each; B Kenny 0-2; O Gaffney 0-1. Wexford: S Rowley 0-7 (6f); E Whelan 0-2; C Parker, E Wickham, C Byrne, S Roche (f), A Moran 0-1 apiece.
Dublin: K Hogan; C Groarke, D Lucey, C Kennedy; C Dolan, E Keys, J Behan; C Ó Riain, L Garrigan; D Purcell, D Ó Dúlaing, B Kenny; O Gaffney, N Hogan, J Conroy. Subs: C Rock for Garrigan (half-time), C Stacey for Gaffney (52), C Newton for N Hogan (55), F Murphy for Behan (56), D Bannan for Dolan (62).
Wexford: T Doyle; C Ó Tuama, E Whelan, M Furlong; P Doyle, C Roark, D Doran O’Toole; C Parker, D Purcell; A Moran, C Byrne, E Wickham; S Rowley, S Roche, J Molloy. Subs: L Murphy for Parker (41), C Doyle for Purcell (47), B Asple for Daly O’Toole (50).
Referee: Pádraig Dunne (Laois).
