Gilroy's men move through the gears

Dublin 6-10 Wexford 1-8:WAS THAT the slightest hint of warmth in the low winter sunshine beaming across Parnell Park? A sign perhaps that spring is just around the corner. And for every season, turn, turn, turn.

Signs too perhaps that Dublin are picking up where they left off last summer – and that Wexford have gone further back. Of course it’s only the O’Byrne Cup Shield, possibly one step below a serious challenge game. But whatever problems Dublin had in the winter deluge in Mullingar last Tuesday they sorted out here, quickly imposing their superior fitness onto an extremely poor Wexford.

Both teams, naturally, were experimenting. Dublin fielded only one player who started their narrow All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork last August – and that was goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton – although a few more made an appearance late on.

Footballer of the year Bernard Brogan played the last 15 minutes and helped himself to 1-1, his goal a simple tap-in after Pádraig Lee’s initial shot was saved.

Eoghan O’Gara played the last seven minutes and helped himself to a goal too – this one nicely set up by Brogan. Six goals and 10 points is excellent scoring no matter what time of year, and with Kevin McManamon, Dean Kelly, Graham Cullen and Lee also claiming goals, there was much for manager Pat Gilroy to be happy about. Even if it was only the O’Byrne Cup Shield.

Graham Cullen – a brother of Bryan – threw his size about with good effect in the full forward line, and Kelly too reinforced his prospects when collecting 1-1, his goal after just nine minutes a superb effort from some 20 yards out that simply flew past Wexford goalkeeper Tom Hughes.

With that Dublin were 2-2 to 0-1 in front, and they maintained that sort of dominance until the end.

Colm Murphy won some good possession at midfield and the development of defenders Seán Murray and Conor McKiernan is worth watching, particularly Murray, who clearly has no fear of the responsibilities of full back.

Gilroy will be pleased that the likes of Brogan and O’Gara are looking as sharp now as they did last summer. If Dublin are to step up again from 2010 then they’ll need to strengthen their depth, and positive performances from Tomás Quinn and McManamon won’t have gone unnoticed.

As for Wexford, who trailed 2-9 to 0-5 at the interval, the future looks bleak. There was confirmation over the weekend that Matty Forde – who in 2004 became Wexford’s first and only football All Star – has retired, and that leaves a huge void in the forwards. There was nothing here to suggest that’ll be easily filled, with Paddy Byrne and Seán O’Neill the only starting forwards to score from play, hitting a single point each.

Midfielder Dáithí Waters claimed their goal near the death, but in fairness Cluxton had pulled off a number of good saves before that. In the end, however, the frustrating roars of manager Jason Ryan could be heard from the sidelines. He will be wondering how Wexford can rediscover some form before the league.

For Dublin, meanwhile, Offaly are up next. Same time, same place, next Sunday.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; A Hubbard, S Murray, D Daly; C McKiernan, P Casey, D Lally; C Murphy, D Bastick; D Kelly (1-1), K Bonner (0-1), P Lee (1-0); K McManamon (1-2), G Cullen (1-1), T Quinn (0-4, all frees). Subs: D Nelson for McKiernan (45 mins), A Darcy for Kelly (48 mins), B Brogan (1-1) for Quinn, B Cahill for Bastick (both 54 mins), E O’Gara (1-0) for Manamon (63 mins).

WEXFORD: T Hughes; N Murphy (Bannow-Ballymitty), G Molloy, J Wadding; F Flynn-O’Connor, D Murphy, A Doyle; D Waters (1-0), B Malone (0-1); K Gore, B Brosnan (0-2, frees), S O’Neill (0-1); P Byrne (0-1), R Barry (0-2), J Holmes. Subs: A Flynn for Doyle (HT), N Murphy (Horsewood) for Wadding (45 mins), S McLoughlin (0-1) for Gore, C Morris for Byrne (both 54), R Tierney for O’Neill (63).

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).

WEXFORD’S Matty Forde has announced his retirement from intercounty football. An All Star in 2004 and former Players’ Footballer of the Year, the Kilanerin forward also represented Ireland in the 2004 and ’05 International Rules series.

“I always said the time to bow out was when I was not enjoying it anymore and that time has come,” he said.

“For the first time ever I wasn’t enjoying it and when last year’s Championship came to an end I knew that was me done.

“I had chronic back problems over the past two years and it took a lot out of me. The hunger was gone, but I took my time over last winter to decide.”