GAA round-up:Dublin laboured to a four-point victory over Wexford to book their place in the Leinster senior football final where they will face Meath at Croke Park on July 22nd. Meath produced the performance of the day as they saw off a much-fancied Kildare side, beating them with six points to spare.
Much of the pre-match build-up had been dominated by Seanie Johnstons brief appearance during a Kildare club championship hurling match yesterday which made him eligible to play in today’s semi-final.
The former Cavan footballer, however, failed to even make the squad list for and will have to wait once again for his Kildare debut. Meath took full advantage of any distraction that Johnston’s non-participation may have caused Kildare and produced an impressive second half display.
The first half was closely contested with Joe Sheridan proving to be Meath’s main threat. Kildare enjoyed possession early in the half but despite points from Johnny Doyle and Eoghan O’Flaherty they trailed Meath by 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time.
Kildare took a temporary lead early in the second half and even when Daryl Flynn was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 53 minutes it appeared that they were still in control. Mikey Conway scored a goal to put Kildare two points in front but Meath immediately fought their way back onto level terms.
Peadar Byrne then swung the momentum in Meath’s favour with a well-taken goal and from that point Seamus McEnaney’s charges were able to hold onto the lead. Further points from Stephen Bray and Jamie Queeney allowed Meath to play out the final minutes in relative comfort.
Dublin’s passage to the final was less assured. Wexford led at half-time by one point and had Wexford’s shooting been as assured in the second half as it had been in the first then it would have been Dublin contemplating the draw for the qualifiers.
Redmond Barry’s ninth minute goal gave Wexford an early lead but Dublin netted through Diarmuid Connolly on 22 minutes. Ben Brosnan, PJ Banville and Barry impressed for Wexford in the first half whereas the Brogan brothers were unusually inaccurate in front of goal.
Wexford enjoyed more possession in the second half and when goal-scorer Diarmuid Connolly was shown a straight red card for striking out at Brian Malone off the ball Wexford were gifted even more space. They were unable to capitalise and instead ran up a lamentable tally of wides.
Dublin’s attacks were less frequent but more effective and when Kevin McManamon scored a goal on a quick break in the 53rd minute they took a lead that they would not relinquish. Subsequent points from McManamon, Kevin Noland and Bryan Cullen ensured Dublins passage through to the Leinster final.
In the qualifiers, Armagh were defeated by Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park. Jamie Clarke began brightly and amassed a personally tally of 1-3, giving Armagh a five-point half-time lead.
The Orchard county were only able to add two further points in the second half and Senan Kilbride’s goal early in the second half as well as points from Karol Mannion and Donie Shine meant that Roscommon were able to hold on for a 1-11 to 1-9 victory.
In the all-Ulster first round qualifier, Cavan staged a remarkable comeback to dump Fermanagh out of the All-Ireland championship. Fermanagh led by six points with 20 minutes to play but goals from Gearoid McKiernan, Niall McDermott and Eugene Keating gave Cavan a late and unlikely victory.
In the Ulster senior hurling championship Derry defeated Down on a score-line of 0-24 to 0-13.
Leinster senior football championship
Dublin 2-11 Wexford 1-10
Meath 1-17 Kildare 1-11
All-Ireland football championship qualifiers
Roscommon 1-11 Armagh 1-9
Fermanagh 0-15 Cavan 3-13
Ulster senior hurling championship
Derry 0-24 Down 0-13