LEINSTER U-21HC/Dublin 1-24 Wexford 0-8:THIS WAS another stirring and successful evening in Donnycarney for Dublin hurling enthusiasts as another Leinster under-21 final appearance was booked with the minimum of fuss.
A crisp and clinical opening half display sprinkled with splendid points afforded Dublin’s promising youngsters an unassailable lead and ensured a decent Parnell Park audience was satisfied by all the nifty stickwork on view.
There was so much to admire in how Dublin governed the first half; Rory O’Carroll’s superb anchoring of the defence frustrated Wexford, while the skill of Peter Kelly, Liam Rushe and Barry O’Rorke in attack was supplemented by a sweet-striking display from Paul Garbutt.
Wexford were typically valiant, but they lacked the power and poise of Dublin, who trotted off at the break armed with a mammoth 0-15 to 0-5 advantage.
The rain which poured from a grim grey sky after the restart scarcely aided Dublin’s cause, but Liam Rushe was still cute enough to craft a 42nd-minute goalscoring chance for David Treacy, who provided an immaculate finish to the net.
DUBLIN: F McGarry; G Kelly, M Quilty, O Gough; P Schutte, R O’Carroll, R Walsh; S Lambert, C Clinton (0-3); P Kelly (0-4), D Treacy (1-0), P Garbutt (0-9, seven frees); D O’Connor (0-1), L Rushe (0-4), B O’Rorke (0-3). Subs: E Walsh for Quilty (20 mins), M Maye for Lambert (44 mins), A Roche for O’Connor (49 mins), K Warren for O’Rorke (50 mins).
WEXFORD: N Breen; T Foley, E Boggan, C O’Shaughnessy; B Hobbs, A Shore (0-1, free), C Kennelly (0-1); J Gahan (0-1), S Óg Whelan; H Kehoe (0-3, two frees), S Grannell, M Wallace; R Fox, J Cullen (0-1), P Kenny. Subs: P Morris for Whelan (26 mins), P Murphy for Wallace (34 mins), S Foley (0-1) for Shore (37 mins), C Redmond for Gahan (44 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
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