Limerick 1-22 Wexford 2-13:GOALS DON'T always win matches as Limerick proved when whipping Wexford and post-match talk centred mainly on the decision of Colm Bonnar to step down after his three-year reign failed to inspire his side to championship glory.
Limerick again impressed but this comprehensive win is viewed as being a work in progress by Limerick management who face an anxious wait as three players had to retire with injuries in the second half of a game which was totally dominated by the winners.
The surprisingly big attendance, estimated at 15,000, meant the throw-in had to be delayed for 10 minutes and the first half was dominated by Limerick.
Wexford manager Colm Bonnar was bitterly disappointed with the end product which also brought an end to his reign. “I believe it is time to stand aside and am disappointed that it finished in this way. But I am confident that the future of hurling in the county looks good. Wexford remain in the top division and have some very promising young players and also many of those who played today have a lot of experience. After three years’ work it was a big disappointment to go out of the championship like this,” he said.
In contrast Limerick manager Donal O’Grady was glad to get the win. The Corkman had seen his side go in front with a Donal O’Grady point after four minutes and they were behind briefly only once (0-2 to 0-1 after 18 minutes). The sides were level after 21 minutes at 0-4 each but Limerick had the next four points all struck from range, two of them were superb efforts on the turn by championship debutant Declan Hannon, who scored a total of nine points.
Those unanswered points enabled Limerick to lead 0-8 to 0-4 before Eoin Quigley nipped in for a Wexford goal after some slackness in the Limerick defence. That left only a point between them but Niall Moran responded with another spectacular point. At the interval Limerick led 0-11 to 1-6, scant reward for their dominance.
Graeme Mulcahy cracked in Limerick’s goal after only 18 seconds of the second half as Darren Stamp fumbled a clearance. Midway through the half Limerick were eight points clear. Any hopes of a Wexford comeback evaporated when an umpire indicated that Paul Roche had illegally challenged Mulcahy and referee Michael Wadding flashed a straight red.
Just before the end of the game Rory Jacob nipped in for a Wexford goal after previously being denied by Nicky Quaid.
While O’Grady was pleased with the result he was not happy with the manner in which the goals were conceded. “Anytime you win in the qualifiers is a plus,” he said. “We expected a tough game and we got that and it was good to get back to winning again. But the win was not without its worries in that Tom Condon, Brian Geary and Mulcahy all came off with injuries and we will have to wait for medical reports.”
Limerick had excellent displays by Séamus Hickey, Geary and Wayne McNamara in defence, Donal O’Grady at midfield and Hannon, Mulcahy and Moran up front. Wexford’s full back Matthew O’Hanlon did a good job on Kevin Downes and Darren Stamp also did well in an overworked defence. Up front Rory Jacob was a constant threat but in the end it was Limerick’s Hannon and Mulcahy who stole the show.
LIMERICK: N Quaid; D Moloney, S Hickey, T Condon; W McNamara, B Geary, G O’Mahony; D O’Grady (0-2), P Browne; N Moran (0-3), J Ryan, D Hannon (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 sideline); G Mulcahy (1-4), K Downes (0-1), S Tobin (0-1). Subs: M O’Riordan (0-1) for Browne (44 mins), S Walsh for Condon (50 mins), T O’Brien (0-1) for Downes (57 mins), D Ryan for Mulcahy (65 mins), D Breen for Geary (69 mins).
WEXFORD: N O’Brien; P Roche, M O’Hanlon, K Rossiter (0-1); L Prendergast, D Stamp, M Travers; E Quigley (1-2), M Jacob; PJ Nolan (0-2), H Kehoe (0-1), S Banville; R Jacob (1-2), G Sinnott (0-3), J Berry. Subs: C Farrell for Travers (47 mins), D Redmond (0-1) for Quigley (55 mins), B Boyle for Berry (58 mins), E Martin (0-1) for Kehoe (70 mins).
Referee: M Wadding (Waterford).
