Dublin's David Tracey takes a sideline puck from the Cusack Stand side of Croke Park. Photo by the Author Andy Cowan.

The Dublin Hurlers got their 2016 campaign off to a flying start by beating Wexford by 10 points to secure the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup for the seventh time under the floodlights on a bitterly cold night in Croke Park.

Having beat Galway by nine points the week before, Ger Cunningham's men were full of confidence coming into the Wexford tie. Within six minutes, the Dub's scored three unanswered points. By the quarter of an hour mark, the Dubs were 0-5 to 0-2 up. Wexford seemed to be struggling with pulling the trigger from play. Shane Tomkins managed Wexford's only score from play the whole half with Harry Kehoe scoring the other three from two 65's and a free after Dublin keeper Conor Dooley over carried the ball in his own 21 yard box.

Wexford had a chance to level the scoring after 16mins when Liam Og McGovern slipped in behind Dublin full back Liam Rushe 15yards out to set up a one on one with Conor Dooley in the Dublin Goal. McGovern struck the ball straight at Dooley who managed to put the ball wide at his near post for a 65.

Dublin center forward Niall McMorrow had one of the most impressive scores of the half after 34 mins when his shot from just inside his own half managed with the aid of a slight breeze to find its way over the bar to give the Dub's a 0-11 to 0-4 lead going into half time.

Wexford opened up the second half a little stronger, scoring a point straight away after play resumed but like in the first half, struggled with accuracy putting two scoring opportunities wide on 44mins. They did however manage to pull a goal back on 54mins when full forward Liam Og McGovern managed to get one past Conor Dooley. Dublin responded three minutes later up the other half when Eamonn Dillon found the back of Mark Fanning's Wexford Goal.

Paul Ryan was the Dublin hero, tallying up a very impressive 0-10 which resulted in the Dub's beating Wexford by 1-22 to 1-12 to claim the Walsh Cup for the seventh time in 62 years.

Both sides are scheduled to meet each other again at Croke Park on May 29th in the Leinster Championship Quarter Final. Next up for Ger Cunningham and the Dublin panel is Tipperary at Semple Stadium on the 13th of February. Throw in is at 7pm. Wexford will meet Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds that same night with throw in also at 7pm.