Gaelic Games

Allis frees put a halt to Wexford’s unbeaten run

Limerick player bags 10 points in scrappy encounter at Gaelic Grounds

Limerick goalscorer Graeme Mulcahy
Limerick goalscorer Graeme Mulcahy
Mon Mar 10 2014 - 09:47

Limerick 1-14
Wexford 2-8
The accuracy of Conor Allis from frees was the main reason Limerick halted Wexford's unbeaten run in division 1B in a scrappy encounter in murky conditions at the Gaelic Grounds.

Allis pointed eight frees; he also put over a ‘65’ and another from play for a 10-point haul, in a game in which only two other Limerick players, Graeme Mulcahy and Kevin Downes, scored from play.

Wexford will regret having 10 first-half wides, which left them with a mountain to climb.

They added three more in the second half, with Limerick hitting a total of seven, four in the first half.

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It was not a great contest but Limerick were happy to get the win to leave them unbeaten.

Richie beyond measure
Richie McCarthy returned to action for Limerick and shone in defence though the Limerick midfield of Donal O'Grady and Paul Browne struggled at times.

They shaded the issue overall, but the forward line failed to click.

Wexford fell behind 1-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes, but points in quick succession by Harry Kehoe and Paul Morris gave them hope.

By half-time Limerick led 1-6 to 0-5 but the visitors were much improved in the third quarter.

They set about their business quickly: within 10 minutes both teams were level at 1-7, thanks to a splendidly worked goal by Paul Morris following good build-up involving Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Liam Óg McGovern.

Two Allis frees edged Limerick back in front. It was a lead they never surrendered, and the arrival of Shane Dowling gave them a further boost.

With his first touch he pointed a free.

Limerick built up a five-point advantage and, while Rory Jacob pounced for a late goal, it was too late to make a difference.



Tame affair
The first half was a tame affair, not helped by the conditions, in which Wexford scored only three points from play.

Limerick’s goal was well worked, with Paul Browne winning possession in midfield and passing to Kevin Downes.

The latter spotted Graeme Mulcahy all alone and he shot past Mark Fanning.

A Jack Guiney free was all that Wexford had to show after 18 minutes, but two points in a row by Harry Kehoe and Paul Morris still had Limerick in front by 1-4 to 0-3 and both sides added two points in the last seven minutes.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; M Carmody, R McCarthy, T Condon; P O'Brien, W McNamara, G O'Mahony; D O'Grady, P Brown; C Allis (0-10, 8f, 1 '65'), J Ryan, D Reidy; G Mulcahy (1-2), K Downes (0-1), S Tobin. Subs: S Dowling (0-1f) for Reidy (58).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; K Rossiter, M O'Hanlon, B Kenny; W Devereux, L Chin, E Martin; D O'Keeffe (0-1), H Kehoe (0-1); S Tomkins, P Morris (1-2), I Byrne; J Guiney (0-2, 2f), G Moore, L McGovern. Subs: R Jacob (1-2) for Byrne (32), D Redmond for Morris (63).
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).