Mikie Dwyer’s second half goal has earned Wexford a flying start to the Allianz Hurling League as they saw off All-Ireland champions Limerick at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Dwyer’s strike in the 58th minute put Wexford a point in front and they pushed on from there against a misfiring Limerick side, who suffered their first opening day defeat since losing at the same venue in 2017 in what was manager John Kiely’s first League game at the helm.
It’s highly questionable as to whether the goal should have been allowed or not, however, as Dwyer appeared to overcarry the ball before shooting past Nickie Quaid but, on the balance of play, Darren Gleeson’s charges weren’t flattered by the result.
The two sides’ showings in their respective pre-season competition finals of late suggested that this could be a long afternoon for Wexford, especially when Limerick started the game with the considerable elements behind them.
But they struggled for much of the first half as a very economic Wexford performance made life difficult for them.
Jack O’Connor drilled two frees into the wind and over the bar in the first 10 minutes and Wexford effectively held that lead until the latter stages of the first half and might have established clear daylight but for a fine save by Quaid from Conor McDonald.
O’Connor was making a fulsome contribution from open play too while Limerick’s lack of sharpness was apparent in various facets of their play, not least their shooting. They had five shots at the posts before captain Declan Hannon opened their account and they had 10 wides in all in the first half, as well as another point effort that came back off the post.
Gearoid Hegarty rose above the wastefulness to strike two fine points in quick succession to bring Limerick level approaching half-time and Diarmaid Byrnes slotted a free to give them a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break, but they would have it all to do in the second half.
They appeared to be up to the task in the third quarter as they pushed two points clear with Wexford becoming rather wasteful themselves, eventually running up a tally of 10 second half wides.
Hegarty’s third point of the day made it 0-11 to 0-9 in the 55th minute but while Limerick’s robust defensive effort was largely keeping Wexford at bay, they got very little change from the various combinations that they employed in the full-forward line and, indeed, that Hegarty score proved to be their last of the afternoon.
Dwyer pilfered the goal from a Paudie Foley free to restore Wexford’s lead and McDonald and Connal Flood tagged on a couple of points to seal the win.
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Matthew O’Hanlon; Paudie Foley, Damien Reck, Connal Flood (0-2); Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-1), Jack O’Connor (0-5, 0-4f); Cathal Dunbar, Mikie Dwyer (1-0), Charlie McGuckin; Liam Og McGovern, Conor McDonald (0-1), Oisin Foley (0-2).
Subs: David Dunne for Dunbar (59), Oisin Pepper for McGuckin (64), Paul Morris for O’Connor (70).
LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Barry Nash, Dan Morrissey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-3, 0-1 ‘65’, 0-2f), Declan Hannon (0-1), Colin Coughlan; Robbie Hanley (0-1), William O’Donoghue; Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty (0-3); Aaron Gillane (0-2f), Pat Ryan, David Reidy (0-1f).
Subs: Seamus Flanagan for Gillane (HT), Oisin O’Reilly for Ryan (46), Conor Boylan for O’Neill (60), Darren O’Connell for Reidy (67), Brian O’Grady for Hanley (69).
REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
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