HL1: O'Connor the hero as Wexford leave it late

February 22, 2020

Wexford's Conor Firman attempts to block Dublin's Donal Burke. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Wexford 2-14

Dublin 0-18

Wexford made it three wins from four in Division 1 Group B of the Allianz Hurling League thanks to a superb injury-time goal from substitute Jack O'Connor at Croke Park.

With his side trailing by two points, the St Martin's man soloed in from the Cusack Stand side of the pitch before finishing to the bottom left hand corner of the net. What made the victory all the sweeter for Wexford was the fact that they had trailed for most of the game and had both Conor McDonald (straight red) and Shaun Murphy (second yellow) sent off in a frantic final quarter. McDonald will now miss the final round against Carlow where a win will secure a quarter-final place for Davy Fitzgerald's men.

Dublin also finished a man down after Eoghan O'Donnell received a second yellow card in the closing stages for shoving match-winner O'Connor over the advertising hoarding behind the goal.

With Paul Ryan, who was a late replacement from the injured Oisin O'Rorke, accurate from frees and Rian McBride on target twice from play, Mattie Kenny's charges controlled the opening half, yet only led by 0-10 to 1-5 at the break after Wexford 'keeper Mark Fanning converted a 30th minute penalty following a foul on Jake Malone.

Rory O'Connor sent over four points - three from play - while Paul Morris slotted a string of frees as the Slaneysiders upped the ante after the restart. However, their hopes appeared to suffer a setback when McDonald was dismissed in the 54th minute for a challenge on Paddy Smyth, and he was followed for an early shower by Murphy 10 minutes later.

Dublin looked to have done enough when Ronan Hayes put them two up in the 70th minute, but their lead was wiped out by Jack O'Connor's breakaway goal before Paul Morris added two late points to complete the comeback.

Cian Boland got one back for the Metropolitans, but it was a case of too little, too late as they let victory slip from their grasp.

Wexford - M Fanning (1-0pen); C Firman, L Ryan, Joe O'Connor; D Reck, M O’Hanlon, S Murphy; K Foley, D O'Keeffe (0-1); A Rochford, A Nolan, L Chin (0-1f); P Morris (0-7, 4f, 1'65), M Dwyer, R O'Connor (0-4, 1f). Subs: P Foley (0-1) for M O’Hanlon, L Og McGovern for A Rochford, Jack O’Connor (1-0) for L Chin, C McDonald for M Dwyer, C Dunbar for A Nolan.

Dublin - S Brennan; P Smyth, E O'Donnell, J Madden (0-1); C O'Callaghan, D Gray, S Moran; C Crummey (0-1), J Malone; D Burke (0-1), R McBride (0-2), D Sutcliffe; O O'Rorke (0-1f), R Hayes (0-2, 1f), D Keogh. Subs: P Ryan (0-8f) for O O’Rorke, C Boland (0-1) for D Sutcliffe, E Dillon (0-1) for D Keogh, A Dunphy for C O’Callaghan, T Connolly for J Madden.

Referee - J Murphy.


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