It's been 17 years since Dublin last won a Leinster football title at under-21 level. The way they dismissed Wexford at Parnell Park yesterday suggests that such a worrying period won't be extended much longer.
It wasn't the most comprehensive of victories, but the scores consistently impressed. All six forwards contributed to the total and more importantly, most of those came at the crucial moments whenever Wexford threatened to claw back. And Dublin's fitness remained at a higher level throughout the hour.
Colin Moran and Wayne McCarthy have already made their mark at senior level and their class quickly stood out. Moran fed much of the attack from centre forward while McCarthy's range of scoring from the corner earned the loudest applause. He ended with 0-6, which included equally superb strikes from a 45 and a sideline.
"I think the team will get better as we go on," said Dublin manager Lorcan Redmond. "So it's definitely there for the winning if the players want it."
Wexford came into this game with impressive credentials at minor and colleges level although it may not be such a smooth transition to the senior grade. They started well but then failed to hold their shape, going some 23 minutes without a score while Dublin shot eight points.
The opening quarter hour saw Dublin face the most difficult test. Moran won them a penalty after a minute but David Kehoe pushed Thomas Quinn's shot over the bar. McCarthy then showed his instant reliability by floating over a sideline ball but Wexford then scored four points in succession, with Barry Byrne and Edward Galavan kicking particularly well following some confident exchanges of passing between Shane Cullen, Eamonn Whelan and JJ Doyle.
So Wexwere 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 20 minutes. But they wouldn't score again until midway through the second half as Dublin guarded their possession more effectively.
McCarthy may have a slight frame but he gives the ball remarkable lift-off. His first point from play closed the gap to the minimum and then Alan Brogan - son of long-serving county player Bernard - made his presence felt to level the scores.
By the time they changed ends, Dublin had doubled the difference. James Gahan showed plenty of pace at full forward to chip over two points from play, while Paul Casey created the perfect space for Ronnie Carroll to add his first.
Dublin pressed further ahead after the restart and Quinn had a real goal chance after a long cross from Moran but instead the ball dropped wide. A lapse in concentration then allowed Wexford to shoot five quick points on the trot, the most inspiring from Diarmuid Kinsella.
But Dublin bounced back with the game's most memorable point. Quinn sent in a long ball, McCarthy made a confident little flick, and Gahan fired the ball straight between the posts. Two more quick points from McCarthy and Peter Lawless ended Wexford's hopes of a surprise comeback.
DUBLIN: S Cluxon; G Norton, M Breathnach, N Cleere; A Holly, M Kennedy, P Casey; B Cahill, C Murphy; R Carroll (0-1), C Moran (0-1, free), A Brogan (0-1); T Quinn (0-1), J Gahan (0-3), W McCarthy (0-6, one free, one sideline, one 45). Subs: P Lawless (0-1) for Carroll (51 mins), L Og O hEineachain for Quinn (57 mins), K Golden for Brogan (60 mins), F Purcell for Gahan (64 mins).
WEXFORD: D Kehoe; N Maguire, R Mageean, N Murphy; P Curtis, D Murphy, M Gahan; D Kinsella (0-2, one 45), E Galavan (0-1); JJ Doyle, B Byrne (0-1), R Barry (0-1); E Whelan (0-2), S Cullen (0-2), L Murphy. Subs: P Carley for Murphy (35 mins), D O'Connor for Doyle (48 mins), M Sheehan for Byrne (51 mins), K O'Grady for Galavan (55 mins), G Coleman for Barry (60 mins).
Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).
