Hurling in the capital received a terrific boost last evening when the Dublin under-21 hurlers overwhelmed Wexford by a 13 point margin to book a Leinster final meeting with Kilkenny.
Dublin were dominant in all sectors, faster to the ball, more economical in their use of possession and picked up some magnificent scores over the hour.
This Dublin win was spearheaded primarily by senior county player Conal Keaney. The Ballyboden-St Enda's clubman contributed 0-6 to his side's tally, 0-2 from play, but it was the manner in which he continually drove at the heart of the Wexford defence which marked him out as the game's outstanding player.
Not far behind was centre back Stephen Hiney, who anchored the defence splendidly, receiving outstanding support from Simon Daly, Philip Brennan who had an outstanding hour on Wexford danger man Rory Jacob and wing back Derek O'Reilly.
Dublin stormed into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead after 14 minutes and the game really started to go away from Wexford once Dublin scored their first goal in the 22nd minute. Pauric Fleury, the Dublin centre forward ran fully 60 metres before passing to corner forward Shane O'Neill to drive to the Wexford net.
Dublin led 1-9 to 0-3 at the interval and the expected Wexford resurgence never happened.
Within a minute of the re-start Keaney had pointed from play and corner forward Fergal Chambers had added another by the third minute.
Wexford's hopes were completely extinguished in the 39th minute when Shane O'Neill kicked home his side's second goal. The St Vincent's man top scored with 2-2 from play.
Dublin eased off in the latter stages of the game when Wexford picked off a number of consolation points.
All six Dublin forwards scored while centrefield player Ronan Fallon chipped in with 0-3, one point from a superb line-cut with substitute Tim Sweemey also making the score sheet.
For a very inept Wexford side only Paul Roche, Joe Kavanagh, John O'Connor and Darren Nolan showed any genuine resistance.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; S Hyland, S Daly, P Brennan; D O'Reilly, S Hiney, C O'Brien; R Fallon (0-3), S McCann; M Carton (0-1), P Fleury (0-1), C Keaney (0-6); S O'Neill (2-2), S O'Connor (0-1), F Chambers (0-1). Subs: T Sweeney (0-1) for O'Connor; G Keogh for Chambers; G Joyce for Keaney.
WEXFORD: M Whyte; T Hawkins, P Roche, J Kavanagh; S O'Neill, K Rossiter, E Keeling; W Doran, J O'Connor; D Mythen (0-2), P Curtis, D Nolan (0-3); R Jacob (0-3), T Devereux, A Kavanagh. Subs: T Furlong for Keeling, F Heffernan (0-1) for A Kavanagh, C Dempsey for O'Neill, K Kennedy for Devereaux.
Referee: B Dunphy (Kilkenny).
Kilkenny booked their place in the final with a 3-14 to 0-9 win over Laois at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, last night.
The home side established an early lead but once Kilkenny got going Laois were always chasing the game. Chief tormentors in the opening half were Shane Hennessy and Eoin McCormack, who bagged four points each. At the break, Kilkenny led 1-9 to 0-5 the goal coming from Tommy Walsh.
Kilkenny roared away in the second half with McCormack and Aidan Fogarty both adding goals.
LAOIS: P Mullaney; J Walsh, A Delaney, J J McHugh; D Keenan, F Keenan, R Conroy; C Brophy (0-1), C Coonan (0-1); B Ferns (0-2), S Norton, T Fitzgerald; J Hooban (0-3, all frees), S Dwyer, E Jackman. Subs: B Phelan (0-1) for S Norton; J Rowney (0-1) for E Jackman; B Campion for J J McHugh; C Ryan for J Hooban
KILKENNY: D Herity; M Phelan, C Hickey, G Joyce; K Coogan, J Tyrrell, J J Delaney; M Rice (0-1), T Walsh (1-0); P Cleere, C Phelan, A Fogarty (1-2); E McCormack (1-4), S Hennessey (0-5, all frees), W O'Dwyer (0-1). Subs: C O'Neill for J J Delaney; N Sweeney for T Walsh; C O'Loughlin (0-1) for C Phelan; N Doherty for G Joyce; M Grace for W O'Dwyer
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
