Limerick avail of errors to claim victory
Hurlers play into hands of All-Ireland champions as campaign starts with loss
Qualification for the knockout stages would necessarily mean having to win one’s home games, so the dropping of two points could prove crucial come the business end of the group, with Wexford now having to visit Cork this Sunday.
The impressive way in which Limerick fashioned this victory, although some way behind in the physical fitness stakes, will not be lost on a Wexford side which was erratic with its handpassing, while the quality of their stickwork was such that it led to numerous mistakes which resulted in scores for the eventual winners.
Limerick’s finishing lacked its usual sharpness as they ended with 14 wides to four from the opposition.
This engrossing arm-wrestle with the All-Ireland champions was possibly the best test for Wexford as they will now realise where and how they have to raise their game if they are to take points home from Cork, who are also point-less after the opening joust with Kilkenny.
After the game Limerick boss John Kiely expressed his satisfaction with the victory. ‘The boys really dug in. It’s not easy to gain a victory down here but the boys played with a level of intensity, the same hunger and desire as last year.
‘We were down some players but the lads that came in made an impact while the subs today also impacted on the outcome,’ he said.
‘In terms of preparation we know we are behind other counties. We have Tipperary next week, so we’ll have to step up another level.
‘We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, have a few injuries which we will be looking at. It’s a tricky time for players, with the Fitzgibbon Cup also to deal with. All we can do is manage the players as best we can, but to come down here and get a win leaves us satisfied.’
On the incident which led to the two sendings-off, Kiely said: ‘It occurred out on the sideline close to the stand, there’s not a lot of room, so it was difficult to see. These things should not happen, and both sides are now down a player for next week.’
While Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald was warm in his praise of Limerick, he felt it was a game where his side could have got a result.
‘Late on Conor McDonald struck a post, Liam Og McGovern’s attempt from the rebound struck the ‘keeper’s helmet and went for a ‘65. We took a quick free we should have pointed. Had we taken those late scores it’s a game we could have won, or at least got a draw.
‘Look, the sending-off of Liam Ryan affected us big time. It left us a man short in the full-back line, giving Limerick the type of space one would not want to. I
didn’t see the incident but the feeling is the referees are instructed to take action regarding bad tackles
‘But I still feel we had a chance today, great chance to take the All-Ireland chamenough pions. It was a tricky game, very competitive, but I believe they got a couple of easy frees, but look, we had a chance we did not take it.’
There was a real 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).