Dublin 1-22
Wexford 1-12

FOR THE THIRD time in six years Dublin have rounded off their pre-season hurling campaign with silverware as they claimed a comfortable Walsh Cup final win over Wexford tonight in Croke Park.

Once Eamonn Dillon unleashed a bullet to the net in the 56th minute after good creative work by Mark Schutte, the contest was firmly settled in Dublin’s favour as they went in front 1-18 to 1-7.

Wexford had received a brief injection of hope three minutes earlier when Liam Óg McGovern outfielded Dublin netminder Conor Dooley and fired to the net.

To his credit Dooley had been excellent before that in repelling Wexford’s goalbound efforts as he produced three impressive first-half saves.

Liam Rushe also rescued Dublin in the 27th minute when he scooped the ball off the line and Shane Tomkins’ 10th-minute point was Wexford’s solitary first-half score from play.

Dublin upped the ante before the interval as they increased their advantage from 0-5 to 0-4 in the 25th minute to 0-11 to 0-4 by the break.

Paul Ryan, who finished up with 0-10 to his credit, spearheaded their scoring drive and as the game wore on he was aided by David O’Callaghan and the excellent David Treacy, who collected the man-of-the-match award.

Dublin stretched their lead further after the break to move in front 0-17 to 0-7 by the midway mark of the second-half.

Even when their net was breached, they fashioned a strong response and Ger Cunningham watched his side run out 10-point victors by the final whistle.

Scorers for Dublin: Paul Ryan 0-10 (0-7f, 0-1’65), Eamonn Dillon 1-1, David O’Callaghan, David Treacy 0-3 each, Niall McMorrow, Johnny McCaffrey, Sean Treacy, Daire Plunkett, Fionn O Riain Broin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Harry Kehoe 0-6 (0-6f), Liam Óg McGovern 1-1, Cathal Dunbar 0-2, Andrew Shore, Lee Chin, Shane Tomkins 0-1 each.

Dublin

1. Conor Dooley (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)

2. Joey Boland (Na Fianna)
6. Liam Rushe (St Pat’s Palmerstown)
4. Oisin Gough (Cuala)

19. Fionn Ó Riain Broin (St Judes)
3. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
7. John McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields)

11. Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
10. Rian McBride (St Vincent’s)

23. Daire Plunkett (St Brigid’s)
13. Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
15. Mark Schutte (Cuala)

12. Eamonn Dillon (Naomh Fionbarra)
17. David O’Callaghan (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
22. Sean Treacy (Cuala)

Subs
21. Robert Hardy (St Judes) for Boland (32)
15. Mark Schutte (Cuala) for Hardy (inj) (35)
20. Sean Reilly (Thomas Davis) for Ryan (66)

Wexford

1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)

2. James Breen (Adamstown)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
4. Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley)

5. Andrew Shore (Parnells – Dublin)
6. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
7. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Annes)

8. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
9. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)

20. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
11. Shane Tomkins (Askamore)
12. Aidan Nolan (Half Way House/Bunclody)

13. Cathal Dunbar (Ballygarrett)
14. Liam Óg McGovern (St Annes)
15. David Dunne (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy)

Subs
10. Joe O’Connor (St Martin’s) for Morris (inj) (9)
17. Aaron Maddock (St Martin’s) for Nolan (48)
25. Barry Carton (Cloughbawn) for Dunne (66)

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)