Ors to claim victory
Hampions as campaign starts with loss
ent but the feeling is ructed to take action es. had a chance today, the All-Ireland chamy enough game, very eve they got a couple ok, we had a chance,
competitive edge to the opening exchanges as Jack O’Connor’s free pointed Wexford in front after three minutes. Limerick’s response was immediate, with Tom Morrissey levelling, but Wexford were stretching the visitors, leaving Cathal Dunbar to collect a ball out of defence from Conor Firman out wide and speed through the defence before finishing spectacularly with a shot across ‘keeper Nicky Quaid to the opposite corner of the net.
It took less than three minutes for Limerick to get back level (1-1 each) after Aaron Gillane, having collected a breaking ball, spun around several markers to shoot high into the net.
Very little separated the sides as they continued to pick off points but, having fallen 1-5 to 1-3 adrift, a Jack O’Connor kicked goal after a David Dunne effort had been cleared off the line put the home side back in front by 2-3 to 1-5.
The eventual winners finished the half strongly, though, adding points through Gillane (two) and a Colin Ryan sideline cut to lead by 1-10 to 2-4 at the interval.
The sides traded two points apiece on the resumption, with Diarmaid Byrnes and Pádraig Foley exchanging opening pointed frees.
The sides continued to trade pointed frees through Aaron Gillane and O’Connor, but by the 48th-minute Limerick - through a Byrnes pointed free - had stretched into a 1-13 to 2-6 lead.
For the first time Wexford brought more of an edge to their game as substitute Paul Morris pointed, while a Conor McDonald effort reduced the deficit to the minimum (1-14 to 2-10) with four minutes remaining.
Wexford required a strong finish to get a result.
While they stormed at the Limerick defence, McDonald saw what appeared to be a goalbound shot rebound off the upright, with Liam Og McGovern flashing the break back towards goal, only for ‘keeper Quaid managing to turn the ball around the post for a ‘65.
Jack O’Connor pointed this, leaving just two separating the sides (1-16 to 2-11) with two minutes of additional time remaining, but Limerick finished with a Barry Murphy point to lift the siege and take the two points which was no more than they deserved.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Conor Firman; Pádraig Foley (0-1 free), Matthew O’Hanlon, Shaun Murphy; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Kevin Foley; Jack O’Connor (1-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65), Aidan Nolan, David Dunne; Cathal Dunbar (1-0), Conor McDonald (0-2), Liam Og McGovern (0-1). Subs. - Shane Reck for Firman, inj. (17), Paul Morris (0-1) for Dunne (54), Damien Reck for P. Foley (62), Harry Kehoe (0-1) for Nolan (62).
Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Tom Condon, Seán Finn, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-3 frees), Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Cian Lynch, Colin Ryan (0-1 line ball); Gearóid Hegarty (0-1), Tom Morrissey (0-1), David Dempsey; Aaron Gillane (1-5, 0-2 frees), Seamus Flanagan (0-1), Peter Casey (0-3). Subs. - Barry Murphy (0-1) for Dempsey (55), Darragh O’Donovan (0-1 line ball) for C. Ryan, Pat Ryan for Casey (64).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).