Leinster SFC: Dublin clinch narrow victory

​Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Dublin 2-16 Wicklow 2-14

By Paul Keane at Echelon Park, Aughrim

Dublin's hopes of regaining the Leinster SFC title are still alive but just about after a dramatic near miss in Aughrim.

Installed as strong favourites beforehand, the 2023 All-Ireland champions lived on their wits and escaped with a two-point win to secure a semi-final clash with holders Louth.

Dean Rock was on the sideline as Dublin's stand-in manager, replacing the suspended Ger Brennan, and received a baptism of fire as hosts Wicklow turned the heat up at Echelon Park.

Paddy Small's 58th minute goal put Dublin into a five-point lead at that stage and they held on for the anticipated win.

But they were clinging on at the finish and were grateful that Wicklow struck eight second-half wides and a dozen overall.

That's how close the Dubs, who played Division 1 football this year before being relegated, came to suffering a shock defeat to Division 4 outfit Wicklow.

Charlie McMorrow struck the other goal for Dublin while Seán Bugler weighed in with 0-5 from play.

But they lived dangerously with Wicklow, inspired by two-goal hero Eoin Darcy, cutting the gap to just two points late on.

Wicklow, conquerors of Carow in Round 1, finished 20 places lower in National League terms than Dublin but were more than a match for their opponents and had stars in Eoin Darcy, who struck 2-2, and captain Dean Healy, who registered 0-5.

A tough day for Dublin was compounded by the 67th dismissal of Liam Smith who'd early come on to make his Championship debut. They lost Con O'Callaghan, Eoin Murchan and Colm Basquel to apparent fresh injuries also.

Dublin went with just seven of their starters from last year's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final loss to Tyrone, highlighting the scale of change this season under new manager Ger Brennan.

Stephen Cluxton, in goals for that defeat to the Red Hands last summer, is now a selector and was a vocal presence beforehand during the warm-up.

There were first Championship starts in Dublin's defence for Cuala duo Charlie McMorrow and Eoin Kennedy, along with Nathan Doran. Páidí White from St Sylvesters also made his Championship debut in attack.

But White's day got off to a difficult start as, two minutes in, he hauled down Padraig O'Toole and conceded a penalty that Darcy converted for Wicklow.

It put Oisín McConville's side into a lead that they held until the last minute of the half as Dublin, under pressure at midfield, and under siege at times at the back, struggled for long spells.

Darcy put 1-2 on the board in that period for the hosts while Healy, Christopher O'Brien and O'Toole got their names on the scoresheet too.

When O'Brien pointed in the 31st minute after great work by Healy, Wicklow led by 1-7 to 0-7 and weren't flattered by that lead. Aside from the scoreline, the other big surprise was that two-point expert Mark Jackson hadn't yet converted, the big goalkeeper drilling two wides from distance.

Dublin suddenly came alive approaching half time. Small, their most potent forward, who was trailed by Gavin Fogarty, drilled his second two-pointer of the half, closely followed by a Killian McGinnis two-pointer.

Then, with only seconds left in the half, quick Dublin hands in the Wicklow danger area eventually cleared McMorrow to take possession in front of goal and he slammed to the net.

Even with a couple of earlier goal chances, Dublin's 1-11 to 1-7 half time lead flattered them and came as a hammer blow to Wicklow, who at least had the wind advantage to come.

They made good use of it, Healy floating over a two-pointer three minutes after the restart.

Dublin returned without O'Callaghan and Greg McEneaney, Cormac Costello and Seán MacMahon getting the nod in their place.

Bugler was Dublin's main threat in the second half and added three points in the third quarter.

But a second Healy two-pointer, allied to Darcy's second goal when he fisted in at the back post after Oisín McGraynor's delivery, tied it up at 2-11 to 1-14.

By now, Dublin had former All-Star Basquel, 2025 All-Star nominee Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and multiple All-Ireland medallist Cormac Costello on the pitch.

Basquel and Niall Scully pointed and when Dublin walked the ball into the Wicklow net in the 58th minute, Small applying the finish, the favourites led 2-16 to 2-11.

But Wicklow refused to relent and but for some errant kicking could have pulled off a seismic Championship shock.

Dublin scorers: Paddy Small 1-6 (2 tp), Seán Bugler 0-5, Charlie McMorrow 1-0, Killian McGinnis 0-2 (tp), Con O'Callaghan 0-1 (0-1f), Colm Basquel 0-1, Niall Scully 0-1.

Wicklow scorers: Eoin Darcy 2-2 (1 pen), Dean Healy 0-5 (2 tp), Oisín McGraynor 0-4 (1 tpf, 0-1f), Pádraig O'Toole 0-1, Cian Deering 0-1, Christopher O'Brien 0-1.

Dublin: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Greg McEneaney, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Brian Howard, Tom Lahiff; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Páidí White; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Con O'Callaghan.

Subs: Cormac Costello for O'Callaghan h/t, Seán MacMahon for McEneaney h/t, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne for Lahiff 43, Colm Basquel for White 52, Liam Smith for MacMahon 56-59, Smith for Murchan 60, Ethan Dunne for Basquel 59.

Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Conall Ó Gallchobhair, Gavin Fogarty; Cian Deering, Matt Nolan, Jonathan Carlin; Dean Healy, Jack Kirwan; Jack Hardy, Pádraig O'Toole, Christopher O'Brien; Oisin McGraynor, Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy.

Subs: JP Nolan for Kenny 49, Joe Prendergast for O'Brien 57, Kevin Quinn for Hardy 59, Cathal Baker for Deering 66.

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).