O'Byrne Cup Quarter-finals/Dublin 0-13 Wexford 1-8: This may only be the O'Byrne Cup, but Wexford's inability to really trouble a Dublin team that will have at best four survivors come the Leinster senior championship shows the unenviable challenge facing rookie manager Paul Bealin in the coming months.
Matty Forde was a late introduction to the starting line-up for yesterday's quarter-final in appalling conditions at O'Toole's GAA club and he proved the Wexford football cliché endures into another season. Wexford are simply not contenders unless Forde is strutting his stuff. Despite several first teamers on board, they would have trailed by nine points at the interval if not for 1-1 from the ever dependable Forde.
Dublin have hardly unearthed any superstars, despite two games in four days without the bulk of their senior panel - as nine points came from Alan Brogan and Mossie Quinn.
Nevertheless, new blood has earned the right to get a run out during the league - Kevin Bonner and possibly Kevin Leahy fit into this category. Although the public get a look at Paul Caffrey's management style in tonight's documentary on RTÉ 2 (The Dubs, 9.30pm), the manager was back in January mode yesterday.
He described Bonner's two long range points as "bombs", but when queried about his or others future prospects, any chance of elaboration disintegrated.
A real prospect? "Time will tell."
Maybe he can expect a run in the league? "Ah, we'll see. We'll hardly pick it this weekend. The bottom line is a lot of fellas are very keen to get into this squad and make it hard to nail it down when it comes to championship time. We have a lot of people tied up for different reasons this time of the year, but it's great to see so many players with the desire to go out and play their hearts out for Dublin.
"With the way it is - with Kilmacud still involved (in the club championship) - there is no such thing as a door coming down on anybody. The squad is an ongoing process. Always will be and always should be. It's never too late for anyone to break into it or show form."
In fairness, the driving rain created a difficult environment for any player to really excel, but Caffrey did confirm selection for next week's semi-final against Meath would come from the current panel. Although Dublin have home advantage, the expected bumper crowd and reseeding of Parnell Park may force a switch to Navan.
Wexford held the pace thanks to a dubiously awarded penalty after 13 minutes. John Hudson was impeded as he rounded goalkeeper Paul Copeland, but his shot in front of an open goal sliced horribly wide. Play was called back and Forde expertly dispatched the spot kick.
Dublin replied via Quinn, Brogan and Bonner, but half-time saw them relinquish a strong wind. The rain also subsided and some decent football followed. Hudson and PJ Banville registered scores to reduce the deficit to a goal, but Dublin pulled clear again with Leahy allowed acres of room to fire his first senior point.
Although by no means a dirty contest, a couple of incidents resulted in a plethora of yellow cards. Sensible refereeing ensured nobody will miss the national league opener in three weeks. David O'Callaghan had a goal chance that was well blocked by Anthony Masterson. The left footed corner forward is another who has done enough to warrant an extended run this season.
The sporadic break out of scraps ensured plenty of injury-time and it got interesting when scores by Darragh Breen, Forde and Ciarán Deely brought Wexford within two points.
At the death a breaking ball just outside the Dublin square presented Padraig Curtis with the opportunity to steal victory, but Barry Cahill, switched to full back for the day, put his body on the line to block what would have been a dramatic late goal.
Wexford didn't deserve it anyway. They will need to go up a notch if they are to repeat the joys of last year's run to the league final.
DUBLIN: P Copeland; C Prenderville, B Cahill, M Fitzpatrick; G Norton, D Henry, G Lewis; D Bastick, D Reilly; D Murray, A Brogan (0-4), K Leahy (0-1); D O'Callaghan (0-1), K Bonner (0-2), T Quinn (0-5, five frees). Substitutions: P Andrews for C Prenderville (41 mins), C Goggins for K Leahy (48 mins), E Fennell for D Reilly (56 mins), D Joyce for D Murray (66 mins), J Leonard for P Copeland (68 mins).
WEXFORD: A Masterson; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; P Curtis, D Murphy, L O'Brien; P Colfer, D Fogarty; C Deely (0-1), D Shannon (0-1), G O'Grady; PJ Banville (0-1), J Hudson (0-1), M Forde (1-3, pen, two frees). Substitutions: R Barry for PJ Banville (temp, 11-13 mins), R Barry for G O'Grady (28 mins), G Sunderland for L O'Brien (45 mins), R Purcell for P Colfer (56 mins), D Breen (0-1) for D Shannon (68 mins).
Referee: G McKenny (Louth).
