Allianz HL D1B: Crummey strikes in stoppage time to secure draw for Dublin

National Hurling League Division 1B, Round 4

Dublin 4-19 Wexford 3-22

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

A precious point dropped in the promotion race? Perhaps. But 13-man Dublin still celebrated Chris Crummey's 75th minute equaliser at Croke Park like they'd just won the All-Ireland.

There was huge relief among Dublin supporters when ultra experienced defender Crummey, confirmed as captain for 2026 ahead of the game, tied it up in the last play.

At that stage, Dublin, who have already lost to Clare in Division 1B, were down to 13 players following the dismissals of midfielder Conor Groarke and full-back Paddy Smyth.

There was more controversy at the final whistle as both sets of players traded shoves and insults while opposing managers Niall Ó Ceallacháin and Keith Rossiter went nose-to-nose at one stage over a late free awarded to Wexford.

There's clearly no love lost between the sides with Wexford chasing a first win over Dublin in six competitive encounters.

It looked like they might pull it off too, to make it four wins from four, when Darragh Carley put them a point ahead in the 69th minute.

But Brian Hayes and then, at the death, Crummey clawed back scores for Dublin to keep their promotion hopes just about alive.

Simon Roche, last year's U-20 captain for Wexford, top scored for Wexford with 0-10 while Kevin Foley, 2-0, and Lee Chin, 1-1, grabbed the goals in a rollercoaster encounter that sets things up nicely for their Championship rematch in May.

Wexford are still unbeaten after four games and have seven points on the board with Clare and Kildare still to play.

As for Dublin, they got a big impact from the returning John Hetherton, who struck two goals, while free-taker Donal Burke drilled 1-9 and All-Star Cian O'Sullivan grabbed a goal too.

Dublin handed Hetherton his first start of the season having missed their previous six Walsh Cup and League games.

Ó Ceallacháin was perhaps hoping the St Vincent's attacker could conjure the same sort magic he displayed against Wexford at nearby Parnell Park last summer, when he slammed 2-3 in the Leinster SHC.

And the Dublin manager got his wish because Hetherton was dangerous straight away, scoring a first half goal and causing havoc in the Wexford full-back line any time a long delivery came his way.

Dublin launched three long balls towards Hetherton in the first 15 minutes alone.

One of those ended with the ball breaking to O'Sullivan who immediately swiped off the turf and struck the net.

Dublin carved out another goal chance in the 19th minute when Fergal Whitely played in Eoghan O'Donnell who drew a great save from Mark Fanning.

But the ball was only cleared as far as the waiting Hetherton who, like O'Sullivan earlier, pulled first time and rattled the net.

Burke's fourth point of the half for Dublin left them 2-7 to 0-7 ahead and Hetherton got involved again, winning another long delivery that ended with a Whitely score.

From that position of authority, with a 2-8 to 0-9 lead after 29 minutes, Dublin somehow ended up going in two points down at half time.

Wexford suddenly came alive with points from Tomás Kinsella and goalkeeper Fanning, a bomb from his own half, before Kevin Foley levelled the game with a goal.

Quick hands in the Dublin danger zone eventually led to Ross Banville finding Foley who was probably fouled by goalkeeper Seán Brennan but still found the net.

Chin and Roche added points and suddenly Wexford were sitting pretty with a 1-13 to 2-8 lead. To compound Dublin's difficulties, the free that Roche scored from came after a foul by midfielder Conor Groarke who was shown a second yellow card.

Dublin brought on Conor Donohoe at half time to shore up the middle third and took the numerical hit in attack, leaving Wexford with a spare defender.

Referee Michael Kennedy was also in charge when the sides met last summer and he made a big penalty call which went Dublin's way for a goal on that occasion.

He was about two more huge penalty calls in this game.

Firstly, he black carded Richie Lawlor for a foul on O'Sullivan, resulting in a penalty that Burke dispatched, levelling the game at 3-10 to 1-16.

Then, at the other end, he dismissed Conor Burke for 10 minutes for a foul on Rory Higgins though Mark Fanning was unable to convert the resulting penalty for Wexford.

It turned out a cracking game was only warming up. Foley struck his second goal in the 52nd minute and Hetherton doubled his tally with a second goal too, firing one handed to the net four minutes later.

Smyth was black carded for a foul on Higgins and having already been booked, the Dublin defender was dismissed. Chin converted the penalty for Wexford.

It set up a thrilling finale and Wexford, with two extra players and that late two-point lead, thought they'd done enough to win it but 2025 All-Ireland semi-finalists Dublin simply wouldn't be beaten.

Dublin scorers: Donal Burke 1-9 (0-7f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), John Hetherton 2-0, Cian O'Sullivan 1-1, Brian Hayes 0-2, Fergal Whitely 0-2, Eoghan O'Donnell 0-1, Conor Groarke 0-1, Conor Donohoe 0-1, John Bellew 0-1, Chris Crummey 0-1.

Wexford scorers: Simon Roche 0-10 (0-8f), Kevin Foley 2-0, Lee Chin 1-1 (1-0 pen), Conor Hearne 0-3, Darren Codd 0-1, Ross Banville 0-1, Tomás Kinsella 0-1, Mark Fanning 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Foley 0-1, Rory Higgins 0-1, Damien Reck 0-1, Darragh Carley 0-1.

Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell; Andrew Dunphy, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Conor Groarke, Darragh Power; Dónal Burke, Brian Hayes, Fergal Whitely; John Hetherton, Ronan Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Conor Donohoe for Power h/t, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for Whitely 53, Dara Purcell for Ronan Hayes 62, Conal O Riain for O'Sullivan 69.

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Darragh Carley, Conor Foley, Simon Donohoe; Damien Reck, Richie Lawlor, Eamon Wickham; Conor Hearne, David Codd; Ross Banville, Simon Roche, Darren Codd; Lee Chin, Kevin Foley, Tomás Kinsella.

Subs: Rory Higgins for Kinsella 44, Diarmuid O'Leary for Wickham 49, James Byrne for Darren Codd 59, Cian Byrne for Banville 71.

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).