The second of today’s Leinster semi-finals is about to start shortly with Dublin taking on Wexford at 4pm.
As always send us your thoughts and comments on this afternoon’s action. E-mail fintan@thescore.ie, tweet us@thescore_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
After the drama of today’s first Leinster semi-final when Meath shocked Kildare, we’re now getting set for the meeting of Dublin and Wexford to see who will face Seamus McEnaney’s men in the final. Here are the teams for today’s second game.
DUBLIN SF: Stephen Cluxton (Parnells); Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), M Fitzsimons (Cuala); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), K Nolan (Kilmacud Crokes); Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street), Eamonn Fennell (St Vincent’s); Brian Cullen (Skerries Harps), Alan Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh), Paul Flynn (Fingallian’s); Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s), Kevin McMenamon (St Jude’s), Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh).
WEXFORD SF: Anthony Masterson (Castletown); Rob Tierney (Glynn-Barntown), Graeme Molloy (St James), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers); Adrian Flynn (Gusserane), David Murphy (Rosslare), Lee Chin (Sarsfields); Daithi Waters (St Martin’s), Rory Quinlivan (Parnells); Paddy Byrne (Kilmore), Shane Roche (Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s), Ben Brosnan (Bannow); Ciaran Lyng (St Martin’s), Eric Bradley (Adamstown), Redmond Barry (St Anne’s).
There’s one change amongst the Dublin substitutes with Jack McCaffrey, a member of the recent Dublin All-Ireland u21 winning side, replacing Johnny Cooper. Ciaran Kilkenny is another member of that victorious U21 team amongst the Dublin senior replacements this afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know before today’s game.
Three late changes to the Wexford team. Aindreas Doyle, PJ Banville and Colm Morris have all been brought in for Rob Tierney, Rory Quinlivan and Paddy Byrne.
Dublin 0-1 Wexford 0-0: 45 seconds in and Dublin draw first blood. Kevin McManamon shrugs off the challenge of Lee Chin to point after the pass was supplied to him by Brian Cullen.
Dublin 0-2 Wexford 0-0: Another member of the Dublin full-forward line gets on the scoreboard with Diarmuid Connolly striking a classy score off his left. Strong start by Dublin whereas Wexford are still feeling their way into the match and have hit a couple of early wides.
Dublin 0-2 Wexford 0-1: Jason Ryan will be happier now as Wexford are settling into the match. Redmond Barry gets them off the mark with a point and then Ben Brosnan nearly ties the match but his shot strikes the post.
Dublin nearly pounce for the game’s first goal but Alan Brogan’s shot is blocked by the feet of Wexford net minder Anthony Masterson. Brogan is then off target with a point effort and it’s still 0-2 to 0-1 in Dublin’s favor with 8 minutes gone.
Wexford 1-1 Dublin 0-2: What a boost for Wexford as they manage to find the net with a fine goal. The score is created by Ciaran Lyng who sends in a beautiful pass with his left foot toward Redmond Barry. Michael Fitzsimons positioning is suspect as Barry collects possession and evades the defensive challenge. He keeps his cool to slip the ball past the advancing Stephen Cluxton to the delight of the Model County supporters.
Wexford 1-2 Dublin 0-3: The teams trade points with firstly Alan Brogan launching over a good point from the right wing and then Ben Brosnan getting his first score of the game after the chance was created by a superb catch by Shane Roche.
There are few signs of lethargy in Dublin’s performance in the early stages and they do not seem as clinical as normal up front. Bernard Brogan has just blasted a shot high and wide from a good position and after 17 minutes Wexford can be pleased with their start to the game.
Wexford 1-4 Dublin 0-3: And Wexford move further ahead with wing-back Adrian Flynn charging forward to convert a good score and then Ben Brosnan sweeping over a point from the right wing. Sandwiched in between those scores at the other end Diarmuid Connolly struck another poor wide for Dublin. 20 minutes gone here in Croke Park.
Wexford 1-5 Dublin 1-3: That should settle down the reigning champions. Kevin McManamon feeds Diarmuid Connolly who atones for his earlier miss by slicing through the Wexford rearguard and hammering a low shot into the far corner of the net. But Wexford are not rattled by that concession with Ben Brosnan just after firing over an outstanding score from distance.
Wexford 1-5 Dublin 1-4: He hit the first point of the game and now Kevin McManamon has grabbed another. Good interplay with Diarmuid Connolly helped create the chance and the St Jude’s man steadied himself to score.
Wexford 1-5 Dublin 1-5: The teams are level courtesy of a point by Dublin wing-forward Brian Cullen. But his side could easily have gone ahead as prior to that point Bernard Brogan had a golden chance to score a goal. He saw his left-foot drive expertly saved by Anthony Masterson in the Wexford goal.
Dublin are not quite operating at the high standard we have come to expect and Pat Gilroy has moved to rectify that by making his first change of the game. Cian O’Sullivan is on in their defence for Ger Brennan.
Ben Brosnan is unlucky not to edge Wexford ahead with a free from an acute angle striking the upright and going wide. Dublin move downfield and Alan Brogan has the chance to put them in front but his left-foot shot drifts wide.
Wexford 1-6 Dublin 1-5: Shane Roche curls over a free from in front of the posts after PJ Banville was fouled when running through. That’s the first score in the game from a placed ball. Wexford are a point to the good as we enter injury-time at the end of the first-half.
Wexford 1-8 Dublin 1-5: It’s half-time in Croke Park and the situation has got even better for Wexford before the break. PJ Banville, after a brilliant pass by Ciaran Lyng, and Ben Brosnan have struck over two high-quality points. Jason Ryan’s men are three points to the good and full value for that advantage. Plenty for Pat Gilroy to ponder at the break as his Dublin team have been below-par for spells in the first-half.
Here are the scorers from the first-half of this clash in Croke Park.
WEXFORD: Ben Brosnan 0-4, Redmond Barry 1-1, Shane Roche (0-1f), PJ Banville, Adrian Flynn 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: Diarmuid Connolly 1-1, Kevin McManamon 0-2, Alan Brogan, Bryan Cullen 0-1 each.
One change on the Dublin team at the interval with Michael Darragh MacAuley on for Eamonn Fennell at midfield. Second-half has just started.
Wexford 1-8 Dublin 1-6: And Dublin’s task of winning this game has suddenly got harder. Diarmuid Connolly has received a straight red card for an off the ball striking incident as he tussled with Wexford defender Brian Malone. Stephen Cluxton has just converted a free for Dublin but Wexford have a great chance here with an extra man.
Wexford 1-8 Dublin 1-7: Dublin are responding well to that setback of losing Connolly with wing-back Kevin Nolan curling over a point. Moments previously Bryan Cullen had a great goal chance but his shot was stopped by Anthony Masterson. Eight minutes gone in the second-half.
Wexford 1-8 Dublin 1-8: Suddenly it’s a drawn game as Dublin have wiped out Wexford’s advantage with Bernard Brogan hitting a free to tie the sides. Wexford have not started the second-half well, displaying poor shot selection in front of the posts.
Wexford 1-9 Dublin 1-8: A vital point for Wexford, their first of the second-half, and it’s supplied by Adrian Flynn. They needed that after a slow start to the second-half and the home support had been in full voice following Dublin’s comeback.
Wexford 1-10 Dublin 1-8: Shane Roche stretches Wexford’s lead by pointing a free in front of the posts. The Dublin players and supporters were infuriated by the decision to award that free but Roche kept his nerve to score. There’s 20 minutes left and ultimately this represents a great opportunity for Wexford to finally defeat Dublin after running them close in recent years.
Wexford attacker Ciaran Lyng has been withdrawn with Paddy Byrne drafted on in his place. That looks like being an enforced decision as Lyng had been hampered with a groin injury in recent weeks that ruled him out of the quarter-final replay win over Longford.
Dublin 2-8 Wexford 1-10: The game has swung in Dublin’s direction. Firstly Kevin McManamon hands them a massive boost by finding the net after Paul Flynn’s long free finds Bernard Brogan who transfers possession to McManamon. Wexford full-back Graeme Molloy badly judged the flight of the ball allowing it to reach Brogan. Ben Brosnan and Brogan have both just been off target with efforts from placed balls. 16 minutes of normal time remaining.
Dublin 2-9 Wexford 1-10: The goalscoring hero from last September has been inspirational for Dublin today. Kevin McManamon brings his tally to 1-3 by firing over a point after cutting in from the left wing. In contrast Ben Brosnan cannot find his range from frees, striking a ’45 wide.
Wexford bring on John Leacy to replace Colm Morris. There’s 11 minutes left and they’re still in this game as they only trail by two points. But they’re finding scores difficult to source with Brosnan just after failing to convert a placed ball opportunity for the ninth time today. The fourteen men of Dublin are still in control.
They were in superb form in attack in the first-half but there has been a sharp contrast in Wexford’s play in the second-half. Redmond Barry has just spurned a chance to notch a point with his under hit shot falling into the arms of Stephen Cluxton.
Interesting substitution by Dublin as star man Bernard Brogan, who has been quiet today by his high standards, is withdrawn as Eoghan O’Gara is brought on. O’Gara makes an early impression, winning a free after Adrian Flynn fouls him, but Stephen Cluxton drives the resultant free against the upright. Niall Murphy on the Wexford team for Aindreas Doyle. Five minutes left here.
Dublin 2-11 Wexford 1-10: Another vital point for Dublin is supplied by Kilmacud Crokes defender Kevin Nolan and then Bryan Cullen is on target after a great run by Michael Darragh MacAuley. A change on the Dublin team as well as underage star Ciaran Kilkenny makes his senior championship debut coming on for Kevin McManamon. Just one minute of normal time left here.
Changes on both teams. Wexford bring on Joey Wadding on for Graeme Molloy and James Holmes for Brian Malone. Dublin introduce Ross McConnell for Denis Bastic.
Dublin 2-11 Wexford 1-10: It’s all over and Dublin have prevailed by four points to set up a Leinster final date with Meath. A huge victory for them as they overcame a three-point interval deficit and the second-half sending-off of Diarmuid Connolly. It’s a devastating defeat for Wexford, their third successive Leinster championship loss to Dublin, and they must now prepare for the qualifiers. We’ll be back later on with analysis and reaction from today’s game but for now that’s it. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.
Come on the Dubs!
Come on Wexford!!!
We’ll be dancing at the crossroads tonight if Wexford win this.
Leave the dancing shoes in their box lads. :)
No dancing for the slaneysiders tonight. But I’d imagine the Dubs will be needle deep in the gear tonight, wha?
Sorry I couldn’t read that comment, I just keep seeing the words ‘Dublin won’ over and over!
That gear must be good.
Foregone conclusion.
Looking forward to Dublin beating Meath in the final already.
Just like 2 years ago??
Remind me: who are the All-Ireland champions? I’ve forgotten.
Being the reigning all Ireland champions won’t win a match, Leinster final or all ireland. They won’t make it past a semi this year. Average team with one or two top class players and a serious discipline problem.
Yeah, because average teams always win the championship.
Confused much!
@Nokia – Good teams win Championships!! Great Teams win back to backs!! A Great team Dublin ain’t!! Once this panel fall apart (and it will be soon!) it could be another 16 years wait for ye Dubs!! Meath are no Wexford & there’s far worse waiting on the other side if ye did manage to retain that tin cup Leinster title ye always get so excited about!!!
I really hope Dublin make it to the All Ireland again this year, so they can be firmly crushed back into mediocrity.. If they were graceful winners I might be happy for them to take the championship again but this last year has proved they are not.. (from Dublin)
Kildare are shite
Loch Garman abù!
Dublin one tough team to beat. Good scare for them
Unfortunately for Wexford, bad misses cost them dearly. Dublin need to improve if they’re to win Leinster, let alone Sam
That’s true. Dublin were no great shakes but luckily for them Meath are very poor.
Dubs prob won’t win the All Ireland, but the standard in Leinster is piss poor.
Was very pleased with how Dublin reacted to the red card. Hopefully this is the end for Connolly. He is a serious liability. Teams are now targeting him knowing he will lose the head. Amazing reaction from the other players though. It was as if the red woke them up. Surprised half-time didn’t. Pretty worrying in the ling run.
Well done to Wexford though. Once again throwing the bookies odds back in their face. Best of luck to them in the qualifiers. Leinster is alive and well.
Nokia, you are bringing shame on all Dubs fans. Cop the feck on and stop acting like you know something. No wonder the rest of the country are pissed off with us. Sake.
You’re right. I’m sobering up now.
I take it all back. Pure stupidity.
@ Emmomac
Connolly is great on his day but he needs to reign in the temper and yes, teams are targeting him because they know he’s likely to snap.
I thought O’Gara was crap when he came on, going for glory instead of passing the ball.
no worries nokia! happens to the best of us!
OGara is an impact sub. No more no less. Great to see Kilkenny get a run. Could be a special one
Can’t wait to see the Wexford players lying devastated on the pitch at the end. LOL
Nasty man
meath will beat either of those, cant see the dubs beating wexford anyway
lol Thanks for the laugh!
wexford threw it away
Shades of last years final lets hope this year we can do do it. nnCOYYB
The result is not in doubt.
What does coyyb mean?
If your three points up with an extra man and you lose, you don’t deserve to win. It was a bad day for Dublin if Bernard brogan brought his shooting boots Dublin would have won easier. Meath were very good today, it will be a good final nd it won’t be easy for Dublin (I hope it is) I think Donegal could be dark horses this year though!!
Wexford lack the nerve at this level. They’re missing easy chances.
how did Armagh roscommon finish up ?
Roscommon won by a couple of pointsn
Dublin nearly threw it away by naming Eammon fennel in the team,
Shame about Connolly but he does bring it on himself. A Wexford lad sitting beside me summed it up…. ‘he has a nasty temper, but opponents love it cos they just find it so easy to wind him up.’. We were lucky today. Wexford backs stuck to us like glue up to 50 mins and but for a few wides, Wexford would easily have made that final with Meath.
It’s all over now !!!!!!
Men against mice.
ye and the mice won
What happened the ‘men’ so? They couldn’t even beat a pack of mice?? :))
have read many of ur comments on more seriois issued and always found them worth reading. unfortunatly u have shown ur true colours and they are nasty. why would anyone wish to see grown men devastated on the ground. no body likes a bad winner.
@ Alan
You’re right. I went too far.
fair enough
Two in a row here we go.