Dublin 2-29 Wexford 0-19
Mattie Kenny secured his first silverware as Dublin boss after victory over Wexford in the Walsh Cup final.
The Dubs, who last won the competition in 2016, had 16 different scorers during a dominant display that saw Fergal Whitely and substitute Ronan Hayes both hit the net.
It was a chastening defeat for new Wexford boss Darragh Egan, whose side now have a quick turnaround to their league opener at home to Limerick next weekend.
Dublin controlled the first half on the scoreboard and the wasteful nature of Wexford's play contributed hugely to that.
The game had started late due to an absence of green and white umpire flags, but they were rarely needed at The Hill end being played into by the Models.
Egan's men hit four wides inside five minutes, while the Dubs settled with three Donal Burke points before Colin Currie added one of his own.
Wexford’s Kevin Foley limped off early, and his replacement Mike Dwyer fired over a couple of scores to close the gap to 0-07 to 0-04 by the 18th minute.
As the visitors continued to hit wides — ten in all during that opening period — Dublin found another gear.
St Vincent’s duo Rian McBride and Conor Burke opened their accounts before that tardy green flag made its first appearance.
Fergal Whitely fed the ball to Aidan Mellett, whose low shot was smothered by Mark Fanning, before Mellett flicked the ball across the square for Whitely to profit on 25 minutes.
After outscoring Wexford by 1-06 to 0-01 in a ten-minute burst, the Models then hit three in a row through Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Jack O’Connor and Seamus Casey.
Kenny sent on livewire Hayes just before the break and the Kilmacud man found the net just minutes later after having his initial effort stopped — 2-14 to 0-09 at half time.
Wexford had a mountain to climb and, in truth, the game was over as a contest as the Dubs hit eight of the next ten points after the break.
Eamon 'Trollier’ Dillon came on and scored a nice point in the 48th minute, in the process becoming the 13th man in blue to raise a flag from open play.
Both managers ran their benches in the latter stages as the game took on a challenge-match feel.
Oisin Pepper hit two fine points and Billy Dunne knocked over a couple of frees for Wexford, while Dillon, Paul Crummey, Sean Currie and Davy Keigh all made further scoring impacts from the Dublin bench.
Dublin: Seán Brennan; Andrew Dunphy, Eoghan O'Donnell, Cian O'Callaghan (0-01); Daire Gray (0-01), Paddy Smyth, James Madden (0-01); Conor Burke (0-03), Chris Crummey (0-01); Danny Sutcliffe (0-01), Rian McBride (0-01), Dónal Burke (0-10; 9f); Fergal Whitely (1-02), Colin Currie (0-01), Aidan Mellett (0-01)
Subs: Ronan Hayes (1-00) for C Currie (34); Eamon Dillon (0-02) for Mellett (46); John Bellew for Gray (52); John Hetherton for Sutcliffe, Davy Keogh (0-1) for Whitely (60); Sean Moran for C Crummey (61); Luke Walsh for O’Callaghan, Paul Crummey (0-01) for McBride, Sean Currie (0-02, 2f) for D Burke (64); Kevin Burke for Madden (65).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Conor Devitt, Liam Ryan, Matt O’Hanlon; Connal Flood, Paudie Foley (0-01, 1f), Damien Reck (0-01); Jack O’Connor (0-01), Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-01); Oisin Foley, Liam Og McGovern (0-02), Kevin Foley; Paul Morris, Conor McDonald (0-1), Seamus Casey (0-03, 3f).
Subs: Mikie Dwyer (0-03) for K Foley (10); Cathal Dunbar for J O’Connor (35); Charlie McGuckin for O Foley (39); Oisin Pepper (0-02) for Morris (43); Simon Donohue for Flood (47); Billy Dunne (0-03, 3f) for Casey (52); Kyle Scallan for Devitt, Aodhan Doyle for O’Keeffe (59); Richie Lawlor for McDonald, David Dunne for McGovern (61).
