Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

WEXFORD 0-22 DUBLIN 2-14

by Ronan Fagan at Innovate Wexford Park

Rory O'Connor led a dramatic injury-time burst to victory by Wexford as they overcame a determined late Dublin charge in Sunday's slow-burner of a Leinster SHC round-robin encounter at Innovate Wexford Park.

While the home-side appeared to be coasting clear when leading 0-16 to 1-8 midway through the second-half, a 61st-minute Paul Ryan goal sparked a rousing late push by Dublin as they suddenly gained control by 2-13 to 0-18 after 65 minutes.

But Wexford refused to buckle and Rory O'Connor made a couple of priceless injury-time additions – including a monstrous effort from play – to thunderous cheers from the locals amongst the 10,228 strong attendance as Wexford pulled through.

Dublin will be anxious to have Conal Keaney back from injury for their trip to Offaly in a fortnight having sorely missed his influence against Wexford, who themselves are away to Offaly next Saturday before welcoming defending All-Ireland champions Galway and then heading to Kilkenny.

Wexford responded to Paul Ryan edging Dublin ahead by 0-2 to 0-1 as Rory O'Connor began to amass an eventual personal salvo of 0-12 with three scores to help the home side transform matters by 0-5 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.

But Wexford were rocked by a goal in the 13th-minute when an attempted clearance was intercepted and led indirectly to midfielder Rian McBride netting to level matters on 1-2 to 0-5.

The sides shared the next four scores before Rory O'Connor momentarily pointed Wexford back in front (0-8 to 1-4). But Jack Malone and defender Paddy Smyth turned the tide in favour of Dublin by 1-6 to 0-8 before the Dubs had a massive let off when Paul Morris spurned a gilt-edged goaling chance.

Regardless, Wexford clawed their way to merited 0-10 to 1-6 lead at the interval as Rory O'Connor fired over his sixth and seventh frees.

Wexford returned much livelier having shaken off their earlier rustiness following a six-week break from competitive action, and they forged ahead by 0-16 to 1-8 midway through the closing-half courtesy of Jack O'Connor, Aidan Nolan, Diarmuid O'Keeffe, Rory O'Connor (2) and Pádraig Foley (free).

But Dublin commendably dug in as they demonstrated no ill-effects of their first-round frustration against Kilkenny to mount a promising charge, reeling-off 1-3 without reply between the 58th and 65th minutes to seize the initiative by 2-13 to 0-18, with Paul Ryan bagging a tidy 61st-minute goal.

Wexford got back level through a Rory O'Connor free. But sub David Treacy appeared to have Dublin back on the brink of victory by 2-14 to 0-19.

However, the Model County sent the decibel levels soaring with their late charge to victory, as Rory O'Connor levelled from a free before adding a monstrous score from play, and sub Harry Kehoe wrapped-up the result to leave Wexford ecstatic but immensely relieved too after this close call.

**Scorers for Wexford: **Rory O'Connor (0-12, 0-11fs), Lee Chin, Pádraig Foley (1f) 0-2 each, Paul Morris, Jack O'Connor, Aidan Nolan, Diarmuid O'Keeffe, Kevin Foley, Harry Kehoe 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Dublin: **Paul Ryan 1-7 (0-6fs, 0-1 '65), Rian McBride (1-1), Jake Malone, Paddy Smyth, Cian Boland, Liam Rushe, Danny Sutcliffe, David Treacy 0-1 each.

**WEXFORD: **Mark Fanning; Damien Reck, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohoe; Diarmuid O'Keeffe, Pádraig Foley, Matthew O'Hanlon; Aidan Nolan, Kevin Foley; Lee Chin, Shaun Murphy, Jack O'Connor; Paul Morris, Conor McDonald, Rory O'Connor. Subs: Harry Kehoe for McDonald (55); Cathal Dunbar for Morris (61).

DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Cian O'Callaghan, Bill O'Carroll; Chris Crummey, Seán Moran, Eoghan O'Donnell; Jake Malone, Shane Barrett; Rian McBride, Fiontánn Mac Gib, Danny Sutcliffe; Fergal Whitely, Liam Rushe, Paul Ryan. Subs: Tomás Connolly for Barrett (43); Cian Boland for Whitley (43); David Treacy for O'Carroll (51); Ronan Hayes for O'Donnell (60); 25 Paul Winters for McGibb (60).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).