GAA: Dublin through to Leinster final after 16-point victory over Wexford
Monday 30 June 2014 11:44, UK
Dublin are through to their fourth successive Leinster final after a commanding 2-25 to 1-12 win over Wexford at Croke Park.
The defending Leinster and All-Ireland champions led by just four points after a low-key first half, but once again the Dublin bench made a huge impact, with substitute Cormac Costello scoring 1-5 after being introduced at the break.
Costello’s goal arrived on 45 minutes after a brilliant pass from Michael Darragh Macauley, and although Daithí Waters found the Dublin net on the hour mark, Paul Flynn rifled home a late major as they romped to an impressive 16-point victory.
Paul Mannion, a late replacement for the injured Paddy Andrews, might well have had a hat-trick of goals in the opening minutes, with goalkeeper Shane Roche pulling off two fine saves and defender Adrian Flynn making another big block.
But Mannion helped himself to a nice couple of points in the first 20 minutes, while Dean Rock returned manager Jim Gavin’s faith of putting him in the starting line-up with four frees. Rock was later replaced at half-time by Costello, with Dublin leading by 0-10 to 0-6.
Both sides were guilty of shooting a bizarre series of wides in the first half, while others dropping perfectly capable balls inexplicably short. Dublin were not firing on all cylinders at the start, the problem for Wexford being they didn’t have the firepower to hit their opponents where it hurts.
Wexford were well organised and eager, their team-work certainly impressive at times, with Ben Brosnan typically influential in keeping their scores ticking over in the first half.
But the Model County were soon running down dead ends, or else chasing Dublin, as Gavin's side imposed their all-dominating game plan at will.
There was a classic consolation score for Wexford when Waters swerved in from the left and buried a shot across Stephen Cluxton.
But Dublin responded to that blip by outscoring Wexford 1-7 to 0-1 in the time that remained to book a final date with Meath on July 20.
Scorers
Dublin: C Costello 1-5 (1f), P Flynn 1-2, D Rock 0-4 (4f), P Mannion 0-3, T Brady, D Connolly (1f), E O’Gara 0-2 each, S Cluxton (’45), N Devereux, A Brogan, M Darragh Macauley, P McMahon 0-1 each.
Wexford: B Brosnan 0-6 (3f), D Waters 1-0, PJ Banville 0-3, C Lyng (0-1f), J Holmes, K O’Grady 0-1 each.