Wexford retained the Leinster U21 hurling title with a deserved 1-20 to 0-18 victory over Dublin at Parnell Park.

Man of the Match Conor McDonald settled the issue when he hit the top corner of the net with a blistering 45th-minute shot to stretch the gap to five points and finally put the silverware out of Dublin's reach.

JJ Doyle's charges justified their pre-match favouritism as they shaded the first half to take a 0-12 to 0-8 interval advantage.

The winners had a great chance of notching a goal inside the opening ten seconds but Rhys Clarke hesitated and the chance passed. Full forward McDonald opened the scoring with a brilliant strike on the turn from the left wing sixty seconds later and midfielder Aidan Nolan added a second Model County point on three minutes.

In between, Oliver O'Leary made a fine save to deny Dublin's Oisin O'Rorke and Paul Winters missed the resultant '65'. Winters opened the hosts' account with a point from play after Padraig Foley had arrowed over the holders' third score.

Clarke and McDonald added to the Wexford tally and Winters retaliated by drilling over a free on eleven minutes after a foul on O'Rorke. Three quickfire points flew over either side of the 15-minute mark: Jack Guiney and Aidan Nolan on target for the Model County with Caolan Conway replying in between.

Guiney's free made it a five-point match but Conway and O'Rorke clipped over two fantastic points for Joe Fortune's charges, who trailed by 0-8 to 0-5 with eleven minutes left in the first half. Guiney's third point came from a free after a foul on senior team-mate McDonald.

In the 21st minute, Clarke speared over the point of the night from the right wing to make it double scores again. Dubs full forward O'Rorke almost crept in for a goal but his shot from an acute angle flew over the bar for his side's sixth point; Guiney's free went to the left and wide but he redeemed himself instantly with an inspirational long-range point from play after 25 minutes - 0-11 to 0-6.

Within a minute, Kevin Foley struck a shot off an upright and then saw a close-range goal attempt saved by Conor Dooley. Winters (free), McDonald and Dublin midfielder Cian Boland all pointed in the 30th minute and the short whistle sounded with four points between the team.

Guiney opened the second-half scoring from a '65' after Dooley had executed another fantastic save to deny Clarke. Winters replied from a free (brilliantly won by the persistent O'Rorke) and then pointed via the top of the crossbar after seeing his 20-metre free blocked on the line.

The hosts closed to within two points in the 38th minute when goalkeeper Dooley thumped over a rather remarkable free from deep inside his own half; Gary Moore cancelled that score out immediately: 0-14 to 0-11 with 21 minutes remaining.

It was a two-point game again when Winters clipped over a simple free from in front of the posts; Guiney (free) and Dubs captain Glen Whelan traded points but Wexford assumed control of the match at the end of the third quarter…

In the 45th minute, McDonald seized possession close to goal and sent a scorcher into the top left corner of the net. Nolan followed up with a point after some great last-ditch Dublin defending denied Foley a second Wexford goal - 1-16 to 0-13.

Conway pulled one back but Guiney's seventh point (free) re-established the six-point margin. As long shadows started to stretch out across Parnell Park, Nolan and Guiney (free) added to the defending champions' tally as they eased into a commanding eight-point lead with as many minutes left.

A trio of Winters points (one '65'; two frees) closed the gap, with substitute Peter Sutton replying with his first touch in the 58th minute. In the closing stages, Dublin threw everything at Wexford but all they could manage was a Whelan point.

Adamstown clubman Shane O'Gorman collected the silverware after the final whistle and the Model County can now turn their attention to the All-Ireland series, where they will feel they have some unfinished business to take care of after last year's shock semi-final defeat to Antrim.

For some of the stars of tonight's victory, there's also the small matter of an All-Ireland SH Qualifier replay against Clare this Saturday to consider. Heady days for Wexford hurling.

Wexford - O O'Leary; D Byrne, L Ryan, E Conroy; A Kenny, S O'Gorman, J O'Connor; A Nolan (0-4), C Devitt; J Guiney (0-8, 5f, 1'65), G Moore (0-1), P Foley (0-1); R Clarke (0-2), C McDonald (1-3), K Foley. Subs: J White for D Byrne, P Sutton (0-1) for P Foley, T French for C Devitt.

Dublin - C Dooley (0-1f); M McCaffrey, C O'Callaghan, S McClelland; E O'Donnell, C Crummey, C Robinson; D Gormley, C Boland (0-1); A Clabby, C Cronin, G Whelan (0-2); P Winters (0-9, 6f, 1'65), O O'Rourke (0-2), C Conway (0-3). Subs: F McGibb for A Clabby, M Cavanagh for D Gormley, A Jamieson Murphy for E O'Donnell.

Referee - D Hughes. Tweet

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