Dublin 2-12 Wexford 1-12: Dublin fell over the line in the Leinster SFC final at Croke Park, thanks largely to a calamitous error by Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson just after his side had taken the lead through a Redmond Barry goal.
Jason Ryan’s side came out firing after keeping the deficit to a minimum in the first half and as the Dubs struggled for scores – they went 25 minutes without one - and Eoin Brosnan and Barry moved them into a three-point lead.
However, when Masterson’s ill-advised punch rebounded off Graeme Molloy and into the Wexford net, the Dubs awoke and a James McCarthy goal then effectively ended the Model County’s challenge, despite the best efforts of Brosnan, whose personal haul was 0-9.
Dublin paid for a rash of wides and efforts dropped short in the first half, as they saw a four point lead reduced to one by the break.
Bernard Brogan and Ciaran Lyng kicked sumptuous points early on to open the scoring for both sides, but the former missed his next three efforts as the Dubs controlled early possession.
Wexford attacks were laborious and usually smothered quickly by the Dublin halfback line but Pat Gilroy’s men failed to hammer that advantage home as they broke into space.
Alan Brogan pointed but Eamonn Fennell added another poor wide and the scores were levelled when Brosnan’s 45 sailed over after a brilliantly timed block by McCarthy kept the Dublin goal intact.
The Dubs found their range briefly, in response, and Kevin Flynn, Stephen Cluxton (45) and Bryan Cullen all pointed for a three score advantage after 18 minutes.
Bernard Brogan made it four with a free and the fear was Wexford would fade.
The opposite was true, however, and after Alan Brogan’s 24th minute point, shortly after Diarmuid Connolly was replaced by Mossie Quinn, Dublin would not score for another 25 minutes.
Lyng scored again for Wexford and Adrian Flynn’s high, hanging effort crept over Cluxton’s bar before Brosnan added a brace of frees for a one-point game at the break.
Kevin McManamon was introduced at the break for O’Gara and he was the man to break Dublin’s duck after Barry rounded Cluxton in the Dublin net to fire Wexford into the lead.
Brosnan and Bernard Brogan shared points, but it was the former who was to have more influence on proceedings for the remainder of the half. The Dublin talisman was later replaced by David Henry.
Before that, Masterson gifted the Dubs their first goal and Alan Brogan tagged on another point, before McCarthy slammed home from close range after a marauding run from the back, making that two massive contributions from the defender at either end of the pitch.
Brosnan made sure the Dubs couldn’t open the gap too far with four points in a row for Wexford, including his first two from play as he ran at the Dublin defence.
Denis Bastick scored a tiimely point and after ineffective substitute Quinn was himself replaced by Ross McConnell, the tireless McManamon set up the new arrival.
Brosnan increased his impressive tally but his efforts weren’t enough for Wexford on a day when luck deserted them.