WEXFORD...2-16 DUBLIN...1-12: Within minutes of their league victory over Dublin at Wexford Park yesterday, Wexford's hurlers closeted themselves in a crisis meeting to discuss their dissatisfaction with the county's management team.
The rift between players and management has now seen the players hold two meetings in the space of 48 hours in the absence of management, with the players furious over recent team selection decisions and over their disastrous league campaign which only saw them escape relegation in their final game.
The players met first on Friday night, following management's team selection for yesterday's match, which included the controversial dropping of full back Darragh Ryan.
The players subsequently boycotted a meeting with management officials in a local hotel hours before the game. It's also known that the players are about to table a motion of "no confidence" in manager John Conran and his selectors, Martin Quigley and Dickie Murphy.
In yesterday's game at Wexford Park, the dropped Ryan answered his critics in style after being introduced as a substitute, driving his side to victory over an under-strength Dublin.
Long-time Wexford servants Michael Jordan and Larry Murphy crashed home the all-important early goals, while the introduction of Ryan to his familiar full-back slot helped shore up a full-back line which was under considerable pressure during the opening half.
Dublin, already without the influential David Sweeney, made five changes in personnel to their original selection, but, despite their depleted forces, looked for a period as if they would build on last week's victory over Offaly.
Rory Jacob scored two points in the opening minutes, and when Michael Jordan rifled home an 11th-minute goal, it was Wexford who looked on song, leading 1-4 to 0-1 as Dublin struggled in the outfield exchanges.
While Dublin responded with two Conal Keaney-pointed frees and a further point from Liam Ryan, it was Wexford's veteran full forward Larry Murphy who re-established authority, shooting splendidly to the net, having been picked out by Tomás Mahon, to give his side a 2-4 to 0-4 lead after 19 minutes.
But two Keaney points settled Dublin's nerves, and when Pat Fleury goaled after Damian Fitzhenry batted out a long Keaney free, Dublin were back in contention and Wexford were lucky to lead 2-7 to 1-9 at the interval.
As Wexford picked off some excellent second-half points, with substitute Michael Jacob hitting three and two coming from Mahon, they gained the advantage, emphasised by Dublin only managing three second-half points, two coming from Ryan and one from the wing back, Cormac O'Brien.
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry, C Kehoe, D O'Connor, M Travers, R McCarthy, D Ruth, J O'Connor, T Mahon (0-3), A Fenlon, B Lambert (0-5, three frees), D Berry, P Carley (0-1), M Jordan (1-1), L Murphy (1-0), R Jacob (0-3). Subs: D Ryan for Travers; M Jacob (0-3) for Berry; C McGrath for Carley.
DUBLIN: G Maguire, S Perkins, M Breathnach, S Daly, T Moore, R Fallon, C O'Brien (0-1), C Keaney (0-5, four frees), C Meehan, S McCann (0-1), L Ryan (0-3), A Glennon, P Fleury (1-0), S Mullen, J McGuirk (0-2). Subs: S O'Shea for Mullen; D Moore for Glennon; R Reid for McCann.
Referee: D O'Driscoll (Limerick).
