Keith Rossiter: It's three minutes I won't forget for a while

admin admin | 04-22 08:15

Wexford manager Keith Rossiter admitted it may be a while before they forget their injury-time implosion against Dublin, the visitors firing home two goals at the death to rescue a draw in their Leinster SHC opener in Chadwick's Wexford Park.

As the clock ticked past 70 minutes, Wexford appeared set fair for their first championship win over Dublin since 2018, leading 1-20 to 0-18.

Three minutes into the additional period, Danny Sutcliffe fired to the net from close range to bring it to a two-point game. Cathal Dunbar responded with an immediate point to calm the hosts' nerves. But on the subsequent play, the ball was launched deep into Wexford territory.

Wexford defenders rose but the ball was only batted down as far as the onrushing Cian O'Sullivan, who rifled a low shot into the far corner to stun the home crowd with the final puck of the game.

For Rossiter, in his first campaign, it's a remarkable fourth draw from his six competitive games as manager.

"I won't say I'm looking forward to looking back on it. But I have to look back on it. And see what did go wrong.

"Out the field, we got a little bit tired and the ball came in a little bit easily. Especially with the last one (goal), we got a clean bat on it. But we broke it down in a Dublin (player's) path.

"We should have been firmer on it and got it out 20 yards away from the goal and the danger was over. Little things like that but we'll learn from that.

"I suppose it's three minutes I won't forget for a while."

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Though Wexford players were disconsolate at the final whistle - with hurls being flung in frustration immediately on full-time - Rossiter was quick to stress the positives of the overall performance, as they look ahead to a trip to Corrigan Park next weekend.

"I wouldn't be happy with the way it ended. In terms of the overall performance, I'd be happy," Rossiter said.

"I thought we worked the ball well, we took some good scores. We worked really hard in the middle third and got a couple of turnovers. They were disciplined.

"In the first half, I thought we gave away some needless frees but in the second, we were clinical. We played some good hurling and you're trying to build on that for next weekend.

"In fairness to Dublin, they didn't give up and got on the end of two breaks and got two goals. We got punished for it but that's what it is.

"We probably had two chances to clear both goal attempts at the end. I'd be disappointed with that but we'll learn from that.

""Every match in the championship, you want to win. It's always an important fixture. It's been nip and tuck between ourselves and Dublin over the last ten years.

"It would have been nice to get over the line today but it's not to be. It's still a point on the board and it could be a very valuable point in a couple of weeks' time."

Following a difficult spring, Dublin boss Micheál Donoghue paid tribute to his players for digging out a draw in unlikely circumstances.

"I thought the lads showed massive resilience. They stayed at it. There's a great spirit in the group and the last month has gone well.

"(It's) testament to the lads for staying with it and when the two opportunities were there, they took them.

"What's been totally missed with this group is there's nearly been a 60% turnover in the squad in 18 months. There's no other county team in the country that's gone through that.

Donal Burke suffered a broken nose during the game

"That's testament to the lads that are here, they want to be here. Their attitude and application is absolutely top class. Their desire is the same as any team that I've ever worked with. We're delighted to be here, delighted to have gotten that result and be still breathing."

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Dublin boss hit back at the "disrespectful" narrative that today's fixture amounted to a third-place play-off in Leinster.

"I don't read anything, I don't follow anything. But I know that has been the narrative - whoever lost today was essentially going to be out.

"I think that's totally disrespectful to every other team that's in the competition and to both ourselves and Wexford.

"For both teams today, it was step one of five. I don't care what anyone outside writes or says about it, today was game one of five and you've four more opportunities."

Donoghue became animated during the match when no action was taken after Donal Burke was injured in a challenge, the Dublin boss reporting that his free-taker had suffered a broken nose.

"It totally did annoy me. He's a broken nose! I have to watch it back. But was there a free, was there a card for a broken nose?" he asked.

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