Sport

Wexford's composure pays off

Wexford 3-9 Dublin 0-13: Dublin junior footballers kicked themselves out of this Leinster junior football championship semi-…

Mon Jun 16 2003 - 01:00

Wexford 3-9 Dublin 0-13: Dublin junior footballers kicked themselves out of this Leinster junior football championship semi-final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday, losing by five points to a more composed Wexford side.

In an exciting game, Wexford were headed only once, when Dublin left half forward Ciarán McGuinness soloed through after five minutes for the first point of the match.

Within three minutes Wexford were in front when a 40-metre free was sent to the Dublin net by left full forward Ciarán Deely.

A blunder by Dublin goalkeeper Alan Durnan presented Wexford full forward John Doyle with a gift second goal and just before the interval, centre forward Eddie Doyle crashed home a third goal to leave Wexford leading 3-4 to 0-7 at the interval.

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Dublin's troubles deepened minutes into the second half when right half forward Gareth Smith was sent off for a second yellow card.

Although 14-man Dublin dominated the next 20 minutes they were guilty of some dreadful finishing, with Wexford picking off the odd score in isolated attacks.

In the final minutes points from Adrian Morrissey and sub Eric Bradley gave Wexford a deserved provincial final place against Meath.

WEXFORD: J Doyle; D Walsh, D Stafford, C Roche; D Foran(0-1), M Gahan, E Quigley; B Doyle, S Whitty; A Morrissey (0-4), E Doyle (1-1), P Naughter; L Murphy (0-2), J Doyle (1-0), C Deely (1-0). Subs: C Bent for Roche; J Mernagh for B Doyle; J Foley for Bent; E Bradley (0-1) for Naughter.

DUBLIN: A Durnan; L Brown, M Fitzpatrick, F Condron; B Byrne, K Kavanagh, C Prenderville (0-1); D Noonan, G Cullen; G Smith (0-4), M Whelan (0-3), C McGuinness (0-1); P Murtagh, B McEvoy, N Crossan (0-2). Subs: B Brogan (0-2) for Murtagh; K McGrath for Condron; S Sullivan for McEvoy; D Flanagan for Crossan.

Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).

LEINSTER JFC SEMI-FINAL (at Croke Park): Meath 5-13 (F Bray 1-4; R Russell 2-0; C Sheridan 0-4, 4fs; A Fox 1-1; W Byrne 1-0; B Lynch, F McMahon, G Rodgers, T Bannon 0-1 each), Laois 1-6 (C Millar 1-2, 1 pen, 1 f; D Fay, T Gee, G Nerney, N Malone 0-1 each).