Dublin stroll to fourth Leinster title

Dublin 3-23 Wexford 0-9 : An unanswered 3-7 from the second-half throw-in up to the hour mark saw Dublin stroll to their fourth…

Dublin 3-23 Wexford 0-9: An unanswered 3-7 from the second-half throw-in up to the hour mark saw Dublin stroll to their fourth consecutive Leinster football title in front of 80,112 spectators at Croke Park this afternoon.

Seeking their first provincial title since 1945, Wexford at least kept it competitive for the opening 35 minutes, trailing by just three points, 0-10 to 0-7, thanks to the dead ball accuracy of Ciaran Lyng and two trademark Matty Forde points.

But with man of the match Shane Ryan in brilliant form and Ciaran Whelan returning to his commanding best, Dublin monopolised possession with Tómas Quinn, Alan Brogan, Conal Keaney, Jason Sherlock and Diarmuid Connolly all amongst the scorers.

Any chance of a Wexford revival was dismissed on 51 minutes when Alan Brogan supplied Connolly for the St Vincent's man to drill low past Anthony Masterson.

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Brogan followed up with the second goal moments later while sub Mark Vaughan added a third just two minutes after arriving off the bench.

Dublin debutant Kevin Nolan was unlucky to be pulled ashore after just 23 minutes for veteran defender Paul Casey but the promising Kilmacud Crokes player had already picked up a tick and yellow card as he struggled to contain Redmond Barry.

Wexford's young manager Jason Ryan attempted to deal with Dublin's midfield dominance by introducing Paddy Colfer for Brendan Doyle but such was the form of Ryan along with Bryan Cullen and Whelan that it made little impact.

Referee Gearoid Ó Conámha was forced to blow for full time a few seconds early after a pitch invasion from Hill 16.

Dublin: 1 S Cluxton; 2 D Henry, 30 C Moran (0-1), 3 P Griffin; 5 K Nolan, 6 B Cullen, 7 B Cahill (0-1); 8 C Whelan, 9 S Ryan (0-1); 14 C Keaney (0-6, four frees), 11 J Sherlock (0-3), 12 K Bonner; 13 A Brogan (capt, 1-3), 10 D Connolly (1-3), 15 T Quinn (0-5, three frees, 45). Substitutions: 17 P Casey for K Nolan (23 mins), 24 P Flynn for K Bonner (56 mins), 22 M Vaughan (1-0) for D Connolly (57 mins), 18 R McConnell for P Griffin (61 mins), 27 D Murray for J Sherlock (64 mins).

Wexford: 1 A Masterson; 2 N Murphy, 3 P Wallace, 4 B Malone; 5 A Morrissey, 6 D Murphy, 7 C Morris (capt); 8 T Howlin, 9 B Doyle; 10 R Barry, 11 E Bradley (0-2), 12 A Flynn; 13 C Lyng (0-5, four frees), 14 PJ Banville, 15 M Forde (0-2). Substitutions: 17 P Colfer for B Doyle (27 mins), 18 D Walsh for N Murphy (31 mins), 25 R Stafford for T Howlin (39 mins), 27 S Roche for A Flynn, 30 C Byrne for PJ Banville (both 59 mins).

Referee: G Ó Conámha (Galway).