Dublin see off Wexford to move into Leinster MHC final

Dublin delivered a dominant final-quarter display when accounting for Wexford by four points in their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Wexford brought momentum into the encounter following their ten-point away win over Offaly last week and they opened up an early two-point lead through scores by Seán O’Brien and Kevin O’Mahony.

However, a brace of Rory Flannery frees helped settle the Dubs and they moved four points clear by the end of the first quarter as Darragh Kilduff somehow found the net after Wexford goalkeeper Paddy Quigley had fumbled a Rory Duffy delivery.

Points from Killian Costello and Flannery saw the hosts maintain their grip on proceedings but that loosened in the 23rd minute as O’Brien fired home past Pádraigh Ryan from ten yards to spark a strong finish to the half by the visitors.

While Flannery added a point from play by way of reply, O’Brien’s third free of the half and another fine finish by Darren Rossiter in added time saw Wexford gain a marginal 2-5 to 1-7 interval advantage.

O’Brien and Flannery kept the respective scoreboards ticking over in the third quarter but a brace of frees by the former ensured Wexford a narrow two-point advantage by the end of the third quarter.

However, the visitors only managed a solitary point for the remainder as two Flannery frees brought parity by the 49th minute with subsequent points by Oscar Brennan and Kilduff edging them ahead.

Jamie Kennedy replied for Wexford but Dublin advanced to their first provincial final in six years as Kilduff, Senan Bolger and Flannery added insurance points in the closing stages.

Scorers – Dublin: R Flannery 0-9 (8f); D Kilduff 1-3; F Codd, E Brennan, K Costello, O Brennan, S Bolger 0-1 apiece. Wexford: S O’Brien 1-6 (0-6f); D Rossiter 1-0; C Carley 0-2; K O’Mahony, J Kennedy 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: P Ryan; R Duffy, S Dunphy, M Byrne; C Quinn, C O’Flynn, T Cullen; F Codd, J Norris; E Brennan, R Flannery, T Higgins; K Costello, C Barrett, D Kilduff. Subs: S Bolger for Barrett (half-time), F Daly for Higgins (40), O Brennan for E Brennan (47), B O’Mahony for Quinn (53), A Ryan for Codd (63).

Wexford: P Quigley; I Reilly, E Hughes, P Keavey; C Sinnott, R Donohoe, J Nolan; J Dunne, K O’Mahony; C Fanning, C Gethings, S Hyland; C Carley, S O’Brien, D Rossiter. Subs: O Moore for O’Mahony (53), J Kennedy for Rossiter (54), J Gethings for Hyland (57), R Wickham for Fanning (58).

Referee: Owen Beehan (Kilkenny).

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan's exclusive take on the day's news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.