Wexford 0-22
Dublin 2-14
Ronan Fagan reports from Innovate Wexford Park
THUNDEROUS CHEERS GREETED Wexford’s escape to victory at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday as Rory O’Connor spearheaded Davy Fitzgerald’s men shaking off a determined late Dublin push in a gripping Leinster SHC round-robin duel.
While Wexford looked to have a firm grip on matters at 0-18 to 1-10, a 61st-minute Paul Ryan goal trigged a Sky Blue upsurge which promised a perfect antidote to the Dubs’ first-day heartbreak against Kilkenny.
But Wexford displayed tremendous defiance as O’Connor swelled his personal tally to 0-12 with a couple of a decisive additions in injury-time.
Dublin led 0-2 to 0-1 after three minutes courtesy of a couple of Paul Ryan frees before Wexford began to impose their will on matters.
The home-side transformed things by 0-5 to 0-2 after 12 minutes as Rory O’Connor led the way with a trio of frees. But Dublin pegged back a fortuitous equalising goal on 13 minutes when intercepting a Wexford clearance which led indirectly to midfielder Rian McBride netting.
The sides shared the next four scores before Rory O’Connor regained the initiative for Wexford by 0-8 to 1-4 after 22 minutes.
And although Dublin turned the tables by 1-6 to 0-8 through Jake Malone and corner-back Paddy Smyth, the Dubs had a massive let off when Wexford squandered a gilt-edged goal chance after a darting run by Kevin Foley set up Paul Morris.
But the locals gained the satisfaction of leading at the break 0-10 to 1-6 after Rory O’Connor posted his sixth and seventh frees of a lively opening period.
Dublin regained parity on 1-8 to 0-11 after 38 minutes, but Wexford returned with greater menace, and forged clear by 0-16 to 1-8 on 51 minutes with a string of unanswered scores from Aidan Nolan, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Rory O’Connor (2 frees) and Paudie Foley.
Dublin struck back through Paul Ryan and sub Cian Boland but that sandwiched Wexford again being denied a goal as ‘keeper Alan Nolan nullified some danger posed by Rory O’Connor.
Dublin then threatened to upstage the Model County as Paul Ryan engineered a goal to help dramatically transform matters by 2-13 to 0-18 after 65 minutes.
Rising tensions sparked a brief disturbance on the sidelines before Wexford reacted to David Treacy snapping Dublin into a 2-14 to 0-19 lead, as O’Connor levelled from a free.
This before the forward powered Wexford ahead with a monstrous strike from play, with sub Harry Kehoe adding the crowning glory as Wexford emerged ecstatic but hugely relieved to clinch the opening win.
Dublin, meanwhile, are now under pressure in the chase for qualification ahead of hosting Offaly before a daunting trip to Galway.
Scorers for Wexford: Rory O’Connor 0-12 (11fs), Lee Chin, Pádraig Foley (1f) 0-2 each, Paul Morris, Jack O’Connor, Aidan Nolan, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Kevin Foley, Harry Kehoe 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Paul Ryan 1-7 (0-6fs, 0-1 ’65), Rian McBride (1-1), Jake Malone, Paddy Smyth, Cian Boland, Liam Rushe, Danny Sutcliffe, David Treacy 0-1 each.
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
2. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
5. Pádraig Foley (Crossabeg-Ballymurn)
6. Matthew O’Hanlon (St. James’, joint-capt.)
7. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St. Anne’s)
8. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
9. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-The Ballagh)
10. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers, joint-capt.)
11. Aidan Nolan (HWH-Bunclody)
12. Jack O’Connor (St. Martin’s)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St. Aidan’s)
14. Rory O’Connor (St. Martin’s)
15. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
Subs: 23. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for McDonald (55); 22. Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna) for Morris (61)
Dublin
1. Alan Nolan (St. Brigid’s)
2. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)
3. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
4. Bill O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
5. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
6. Seán Moran (Cuala)
7. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields, capt.)
8. Rian McBride (St. Vincent’s)
9. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
10. Jake Malone (Cuala)
11. Fiontánn Mac Gib (Setanta)
12. Danny Sutcliffe (St. Jude’s)
13. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Liam Rushe (St. Patrick’s Palmerstown)
15. Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St. Enda’s)
Subs: 21. Tomás Connolly (St. Vincent’s) for Barrett (43); 22. Cian Boland (St. Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh) for Whitley (43); 23. David Treacy (Cuala) for O’Carroll (51); 24, Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) for O’Donnell (60); 25. Paul Winters (St. Brigid’s) for McGibb (60).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
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To say his career in management has been ‘largely unsuccessful’ is incorrect.He did have success at Sunderland.
That’s why I said ‘largely unsuccessful’ rather than ‘entirely unsuccessful’ Eamonn.
To call his management ‘largely unsuccessful ‘ is unfair Paul. He took Sunderland from bottom of the table to win the championship. Success.Then he kept them in the Prem. more success.
Already sick of the Roy Keane stories. I’ve read sweet f**k all about Martin O’Neill who last time I checked, was actually appointed boss, not Keane.
By the way I hope that O’Neill does not start tiptoeing around d**kheads like Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson, begging them to come play for Ireland. If he puts 11 men out there who replicate the pride, commitment and passion shown by the likes of the Clare and Cork hurlers last month, in every game they play then ill be happy enough. You can’t ask for more than that. Leave the primadonnas at home.
Agreed. Had to laugh at Stephen Ireland being interviewed and saying he’s going to give some consideration to coming back. He hasn’t done anything to merit it since he was playing for City.
Last month, Roy helped his old Forest mate Gary Charles with some coaching at a University of Nottingham football match. I talked to some of the boys – after they got over the shock of Keane walking into their dressing room unannounced, they said he was articulate, obviously enthusiastic about what they were doing, and helpful in his critique. This is just one example of what he’s been doing the last three years; from helping some university players to observing training at Barcelona – he hasn’t just been walking the dogs and working for ITV. He’s been serious about trying to improve his skill set and I suspect he’s had a good old think about where he’s gone wrong in the past in his management style.
Since when does coaching come into international football??? Coaching is done at your club.
Tactics & the motivation are the only thing an international manager (that’s Martin O Neill everyone not Keane, just try remember that) gets to do with the short amount of time with the players……
Good work journo, another nonsense story
Lets take them across the water. Gerrard and Lampard could never play well together as they’ve only ever played one style of football and basically only predominantly for one club.
Coaching them at international level was the only way to get them to change their style of playing. Unfortunately for England it didn’t work. Possibly a good coach may have made it work.
A coach is essential at all levels.
A hotshot…. In precious few days that you have the players, how can you coach them?? Team organisation, tactics & mentally preparing them for an international match should be just scrapped for coaching grown men???
Kids get coached, precessionals listen to tactics
@Kevin: Maybe the lack of success was because they were trying to coach these two top players into a style of football they were both uncomfortable with, rather than having the tactical fluency to play them as they would wish to be played.
People seem to forget Martin O Neill is the manager not Roy Keane
I think your article is very misleading Paul. You are damning his coaching ability by criticising his man management skills. From what I gather he is an intelligent and innovative coach on the training ground whose management career was stifled by issues with the man management rather than the coaching.
I meant ‘coaching style’ in the broader sense of the word, Joseph. Man management can be considered a part of coaching.
Id disagree, man management is part of management, coaching can be a part of management too but would be more widely considered, in the context of British football at any rate, as the work done with players on the training pitch.
Sorry to say that while your articles are normally good I’m afraid you should have given this one a miss, it smacks of Sun type journalism.
FACT: Martin O’Neill is ROI manager
FACT:Roy Keane is his assistant and no doubt part of his coaching staff.
Why is all the talk about Roy and not what Martin brings to the job. From reports I have read, I have no idea one way or the other, O’Neill can be quite tough when he wants to be. So less of the jumping on the Dunphy bandwagon please.