Not many saw it coming, as Dublin deliver the goods against Wexford – but All-Ireland champs Cork lie in wait next

But Mags D’Arcy avoided the traffic as she arrived early at Parnell Park;

in the same manner that she used to dance around incoming forwards when she played in the Wexford goal.

She had the best of days between the sticks. And she was one of the finest custodians of all.

All-Ireland winner and All-Star on that fabulous Slaney side.

She’s now the Dublin goalkeeping coach. And on Saturday, the Dubs were hosting Wexford in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

Only game day three in Group 2, but still a pivotal fixture as the eyes sharpened on a quarter-final place in a pool that also includes heavyweights Cork and Galway.

The previews suggested an encounter of the third kind. The two previous Dublin-Wexford duels this term were thrillers.

The referee was John Dermody. He could have run from Westmeath. He recently completed the Belfast Marathon.

All were cheered by the news from Rome – Ireland’s Mixed Relay success.

The first European gold since that achieved by the Cobh Rambler.

Mary O’Connell had her running shoes on. She didn’t delay on the final whistle.

She’s the mother of the Dublin hurling brothers, Seán and Colin Currie, who had a big appointment down the road in Croke Park.

Mary won a Dublin Senior Football Championship medal with Marino. She was a dual star with Na Fianna.

She managed the Na Fianna team that won the club’s only Division 1 National Feile Hurling title.

Colin and Seán played cricket for Clontarf, representing Leinster and Ireland. Noel Brady’s Donnycarney lawn was the perfect wicket.

The match was being live-streamed. The viewers heard that Ciara O’Connor was ruled out with injury.

It would be a blow to any team in the country. She excelled in the two games against Dublin this year.

Yet Wexford were in an optimistic mood; the last day, they drew against Galway. Anais Curran’s late free levelled that tie.

They played with the breeze that blew into the scoreboard end.

Wexford were awarded a first half-penalty. Anais took it. It was a thundering strike. The white sliotar pinging against the bar. Its echo could have been heard down on Griffith Avenue.

Wexford’s Chloe Foxe had scored a goal within the opening minute, but gradually, steadily, Dublin took over. And they earned a hugely significant win, 4-13 to 1-10.

Not many saw the margin of the scoreline. Dublin’s Bill McCormack praised the efforts of his side.

“It’s a really pleasing day when you get a result like that.

“We had prepared well for this game. We knew this was such an important fixture.

“But the main thing now is to keep focused for our two remaining matches away to Cork and then Down.

“Cork are up next. We know what to expect there. They are not All-Ireland champions for nothing.

“We’ll put in the work and give it a lash and see where it takes us. But these are the matches that you’d look forward to.

“We are happy enough with the campaign. We lost Aisling O’Neill to a hamstring injury in the Galway game here, but hopefully, she’ll be back fit in a couple of weeks.”

Bill also commended Dublin’s finishing. “It’s always good to see a few goals on the board.”

Dublin’s first goal came in the 12th minute from Elyse Jamieson Murphy. A precise finish that belonged in a packet of Keogh’s crisps.

Full-forward Emma Flanagan nudged in the second. As ever, she was in the right place at the right time. And it was perfect timing - two minutes into first-half injury-time.

The ideal spoonful of sugar to put in the tea as the Dubs went in 2-7 to 1-5 ahead.

Seconds into the restart, Claire Gannon lofted over one of the best points of the hour.

She was later presented with the Player-of-the-Match award by Phyliss Breslin, the former President of the Camogie Association.

Phyllis played in goal for the Dubs. But not even her, or Mags D’Arcy, could have prevented Dublin’s third goal – a scorcher from Grace O’Neill, whose goal won the Very Division 1B League final between the counties.

This time, Grace, the Ballinteer Bolt, strode down the left and angled a low rasper to the far corner.

Aisling Gannon’s drive inside the near left-hand post brought Dublin’s fourth goal, and from there, as in Rod Stewart’s words, they were sailing.

Just before they reached harbour, Dublin scored a point that came from the window of a craft shop.

It began with Kerrie Finnegan. She has proven herself the master of the sky.

And once again, she made a catch that the Currie brothers would have been proud of.

She found Áine Rafter, who passed to Sinéad Wylde, who was almost on the fairway of the Clontarf Golf Club.

Yet she still managed to find the black spot. A black-ball shot that was good enough to win the Championship at the Crucible.