Liam Óg McGovern scores his first goal for Wexford at Innovate Wexford Park today.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IB: LIMERICK 4-16 WEXFORD 3-18
Limerick substitute Seánie O’Brien made a late plunder for the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B spoils as his 70th minute point capsized the gallant Wexford crusade amid sunshine in the sunny South-East this afternoon.
Wexford had led by eight points with 24 minutes gone but missed chances in the second half saw Limerick slip back into the game. Although they missed a number of players owing to imminent action with their club (Kilmallock) in the All-Ireland final, Limerick still had some terrific grafters including Richie McCarthy and Séamus Hickey while Shane Dowling was solid on frees as the talisman racked up 1-6 in all.
After a weak opening ten minutes, Liam Óg McGovern’s sublime major helped Wexford establish parity on 12 minutes. Just before the quarter-hour mark, John Fitzgibbon struck the net for Limerick as he caught the Wexford defence at a disjointed moment. Jack Guiney punched back instantly though as he raised the green flag to put Wexford 2-2 to 1-4 clear after 14 minutes. With Lee Chin conducting the Wexford defence within his typical splendour, Guiney and McGovern combined once more to create a lead of eight points. However, Shane Dowling’s goal, which came from a free on the 65-metre line, was a crucial factor in cutting down Wexford’s half-time lead to 3-9 to 2-9.
After a tense spell subsequent to the restart, Limerick found their footing and cut their deficit down to a point on 45 minutes when John Fitzgibbon aided Declan Hannon (3-10 to 3-9). The Adare clubman put the teams on level-pegging on 52 minutes on a score-line of 3-12 apiece. Wexford had been incessant earlier in their harrying but now they seemed to lose pace and instead rack up a number of wides.
Eventually points from the superb David Redmond, Diarmuid O’Keefe and Podge Doran contributed to a three-point lead for Wexford six minutes shy of full-time. But their good work was ripped to shreds by David Breen who buried the ball in Mark Fanning’s net on 66 minutes, following a number of Limerick goal threats which had been averted by Fanning and 19-year old dynamo Liam Ryan.
While Jack Guiney earned a pointed free for Wexford after Conor McDonald had been fouled, points from Shane Dowling (free) and Seánie O’Brien, who had been introduced just three minutes earlier, nudged Limerick and that was just enough to gain the TJ-Ryan managed outfit two points on league table.
***
Scorers for Limerick: S Dowling 1-6 (1-4 fs, 0-1 65′), J Fitzgibbon 1-2, D Hannon 1-3, D Breen 1-1, D Reidy 0-1, P Browne 0-1, S O’Brien 0-1, S Tobin 0-1.
Scorers for Wexford: L McGovern 2-1, J Guiney 1-6 (0-6 fs), P Morris 0-3, I Byrne 0-2, D Redmond 0-2, P Doran 0-2, D O’Keefe 0-1, H Kehoe 0-1.
LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; C Aillis, W McNamara, D Morrissey; J Ryan, P Browne; J Fitzgibbon, D O’Grady (capt.), D Hannon; D Reidy, S Dowling, D Breen. Subs: C Lynch for D Reidy (43′); S Tobin for D O’Grady (51′); S O’Brien for P Browne (66′).
WEXFORD: M Fanning; L Ryan, T Waters, E Moore; P Foley, M O’Hanlon (capt.), L Chin; D Redmond, H Kehoe; D O’Keefe, D Waters, I Byrne; P Morris, J Guiney, L Óg McGovern. Subs: C McDonald for P Morris (46′); P Doran for I Byrne (53′).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
Attendance 6,700.
report from www.gaa.ie
