Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1

WEXFORD 1-21 DUBLIN 2-18

By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park

Dublin floored Wexford with dramatic injury-time goals from Danny Sutcliffe and Cian O’Sullivan to force an opening round draw in Sunday’s Leinster Senior hurling championship duel at sunny Chadwicks Wexford Park.

After being deadlocked at the interval, Wexford looked set for a potentially significant victory over the Sky Blues – their first in three championship attempts - as the in-form Lee Chin inspired them clear by 1-20 to 0-18 two minutes into added-time.

But Sutcliffe gave Dublin hope when netting from a Paul Crummey assist in the third minute of additional time, and while Cathal Dunbar struck back for a three point lead (1-21 to 1-18), Cian O’Sullivan bridged the gap when the resultant puck-out was broken down for the St. Brigid’s club-man to complete a sensational escape to parity.

Wexford will be cursing failing to close out the deal while Dublin emerge relieved after salvaging something from a quite subdued showing by Micheál Ó Donoghue’s charges.

The Dubs are away to Carlow next weekend when Wexford head to Antrim.

But these sides’ respective duels with Kilkenny and Galway are now expected to have a considerable bearing on secures qualification.

Lee Chin exploded Wexford into a magnificent start when bolting a penalty to the net a mere 62 seconds in after the full-forward was impeded having gathered a quick delivery off the throw-in by Conor Hearne.

Dublin refused to be ruffled as they nestled into a 0-7 to 1-2 lead after eighteen minutes, with the sides twice being level before defender Paddy Doyle and ace free-taker Donal Burke (‘65) – the latter having received attention for a head injury – gave the visitors an edge.

But Wexford fans were lapping up a vintage display from Lee Chin – the captain back after missing the last two games of the league through injury.

And the Faythe Harrier had his name on every Wexford score as they closed to within 0-8 to 1-4.

For good measure, he obliged with the assist for Rory O’Connor to restore parity for a third time after 24 minutes (1-5 to 0-8).

Chin kept adding to Wexford’s stock with a free from midfield before Rory O’Connor added a sublime second personal score from the left wing, while another Chin placed-ball from distance had the hosts up 1-8 to 0-8 after 32 minutes.

Keith Rossiter’s charges, despite Chin enjoying little real support upfront, were looking good for a half-time lead until Dublin raided three late scores to tie on 1-8 to 0-11 at the change-of-ends; Donal Burke (free), Danny Sutcliffe from his own half, and wing-back Chris Crummey all upping the ante.

Nevertheless, Wexford resumed with a little bit more spark about them – Dublin seeming sluggish for long stretches of the second-half – and Rory O’Connor and Chin (two frees) had locals amongst the 9,754 attendance in rich voice after 43 minutes (1-11 to 0-12).

But, in a tight duel, Seán Currie and Mark Grogan balanced the books once again after 45 minutes.

Cathal Dunbar drew a save from the Dublin ‘keeper before Conor McDonald, just on as a sub, was foiled in the follow-up.

Regardless, a monstrous score from ‘keeper Mark Fanning and an addition by McDonald gave Wexford a 1-13 to 0-14 edge after 47 minutes.

Dublin mightn’t have been on their A-game, but they kept themselves within range, and Ronan Hayes was unfortunate to see his goaling effort rise inches over the crossbar as they pegged it back to 1-13 to 0-15 from an Eoghan O’Donnell assist in the 49^th minute.

Yet the odds seemed to be favouring a livelier Wexford after Chin, midfielder Conor Hearne and O’Connor drove them 1-16 to 0-15 ahead.

Dublin kept in touch through two Burke frees, while Wexford saw Liam Óg McGovern lash an angled drive across the face of goal, before another Chin free and sub Cian Byrne restored a four point gap on 60 minutes (1-18 to 0-17).

And two more Chin frees had Wexford looking destined to avenge defeats to the Dubs in each of the last two championships, with Wexford leading 1-20 to 0-18 before the men from the Capital threw the cat amongst the qualifying picture with those injury-time strikes.

Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 1-12 (1-0 penalty, 0-9 frees), Rory O’Connor 0-4, Mark Fanning, Conor McDonald, Conor Hearne, Cian Byrne, Cathal Dunbar 0-1 each

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-7 (6 frees, 1 ‘65), Cian O’Sullivan (0-2 frees), Danny Sutcliffe 1-2 each, Mark Grogan 0-2, Paddy Doyle, Conor Burke, Chris Crummey, Seán Currie, Ronan Hayes 0-1 each

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Niall Murphy, Matthew O’Hanlon; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck, Conor Foley; Conor Hearne, Liam Óg McGovern; Cathal Dunbar, Kevin Foley, Rory O’Connor; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin, Seamus Casey.

Subs: Conor McDonald for Lawlor (44), Cian Byrne for Casey (56), Mikie Dwyer for Foley (67), Darragh Carley for O’Connor (70+3).

Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe, Eoghan O’Donnell; Mark Grogan, Conor Burke; Brian Hayes, Donal Burke, Danny Sutcliffe; Ronan Hayes, Cian O’Sullivan, Seán Currie.

Subs: Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for D. Burke, temp. (10-17), Daire Gray for Doyle (56), Paul Crummey for R. Hayes (64), Darragh Power for Grogan (66), Ó Dúlaing for Currie (69), Dara Purcell for B. Hayes (70+1).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).