Late Dublin goals deny complacent Wexford victory

Dublin stung Wexford with a brace of injury-time goals to snatch a sensational draw in Sunday's Leinster SHC opener at sun-kissed Wexford Park.

Wexford seemed nailed-on for a potentially pivotal victory after Lee Chin brought his outstanding personal haul to 1-12 two minutes into added-time to open-up a 1-20 to 0-18 advantage.

But Dublin were given a lifeline when sub Paul Crummey fed Danny Sutcliffe to shave the gap to 1-20 to 1-18 three minutes into injury-time.

And although Cathal Dunbar responded to open-up a three point divide, the Sky Blues were embracing a famous escape to the draw when the resultant puck-out was broken down for Cian O’Sullivan to net the leveller.

Only time will tell how significant the result will be in terms of filling the three qualifying slots from the eastern province, with both sides on the road next weekend – Wexford facing Antrim, and Dublin heading to Carlow – before Wexford host Galway, who Dublin will be away to, while Kilkenny host the Model County and head to Dublin.

Wexford couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to their campaign, as Conor Hearne won the throw-in and arrowed through to full-forward Lee Chin, who drew a penalty which he blasted home inside 70 seconds.

But Dublin were anything but rattled as they responded to twice level, before corner-back Paddy Doyle and Donal Burke – the latter returning to the field after a head injury – generated a 0-7 to 1-2 lead after eighteen minutes.

Lee Chin was to the fore in purple and gold – making light of recent injury problems that had forced him to sit out the last couple of National League games - as he accounted for everything in closing to within 0-08 to 1-04 before Chin provided the assist for Rory O’Connor to tie things up for a third