Allianz Hurling League Division 1B – Limerick 1-14 Wexford 2-8

Limerick defeated Wexford by 1-14 to 2-8 in round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B on Sunday March 9th at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

Ryan praises Treaty as promotion push gathers momentum

Limerick remain on course for promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz HL after a final-quarter scoring spree secured this win over Wexford.

By Brendan Buckley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Limerick 1-14 Wexford 2-08

The sides were deadlocked 1-7 apiece 10 minutes into the second half. But Wexford were to score just twice in the final 25 minutes as Limerick found another gear to register seven scores to remain unbeaten in the league under the new management of Donal O’Grady and TJ Ryan. “We are delighted because we knew before the game that it was going to be tough and conditions were very hard,” said Ryan. “From the stand it might not have looked bad but it was drizzly and very wet and the pitch was hard and first-touch hurling was difficult. “Credit Wexford, they were very good and we knew that with two games won and it was never going to be easy and it was a battle to the end. “Today was about a result and staying in the hunt. We move on to the next day. Home advantage today was a help and now the next two games are away from home. “We have to go to Tullamore next week and it’s a cup final and we have to win it,” said Ryan of the remaining games against Offaly and Laois as Limerick battle with Cork to finish top of the league and gain promotion.

Limerick were fastest from the traps and were 1-4 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes. Conor Allis opened their account after five minutes and then Graeme Mulcahy marked his return from suspension with 1-1 in quick succession. Allis added further scores from placed balls and the lead was suddenly pushed out to six points.

Wexford rallied but were left to rue a wides tally of 10 in the first half. They did have scores from Harry Kehoe and Paul Morris to reduce the lead but by half-time it was 1-6 to 0-5 to Limerick. Six minutes into the second half all became very uncomfortable for the home side when Morris found the net. With sub Rory Jacob causing havoc the game was soon level. But the Limerick response was impressive. They ran at the Wexford rearguard and free-taker Conor Allis proved most accurate. He hit three successive frees to leave it 1-10 to 0-8 and Wexford were not to score again for another 14 minutes.

While the Limerick attack wasn’t finding the range, Shane Dowling and Allis continued to pop over frees. The only Limerick score from play in the second period came in the 65th minute when Kevin Downes fired over. That had them 1-14 to 1-8 clear. As the stopwatch ticked into injury-time Jacob blasted to the net for Wexford’s second goal but it proved too late for any last-gasp dramatics and the unbeaten run for Liam Dunne’s side was at an end ahead of a trip to Cork.

Scorers for Limerick: C Allis 0-10 (8f, 1 65), G Mulcahy 1-2, S Dowling (1f), K Downes 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: P Morris, R Jacob 1-2 each, J Guiney 0-2 (2f), H Kehoe, D O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; M Carmody, R McCarthy, T Condon; P O’Brien, W McNamara, G O’Mahony; D O’Grady, P Browne; C Allis, J Ryan, D reidy; G Mulcahy, K Downes, S Tobin.

Sub: S Dowling for Reidy (58).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; K Rossiter, M O’Hanlon, B Kenny; W Devereux, L chin, E Martin; D O’Keeffe, H Kehoe; S Tomkins, P Morris, I Byrne; J Guiney, G Moore, L Óg McGovern.

Subs: R Jacob for Byrne (32), D Redmond for Morris (63).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary)

Team News

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Mark Carmody, Richie McCarthy, Tom Condon; Paudie O’Brien, Wayne McNamara, Gavin O’Mahony; Donal O’Grady, Paul Browne; Conor Allis, James Ryan, David Reidy; Graeme Mulcahy, Kevin Downes, Seanie Tobin.

Subs: Aaron Murphy, Stephen Walsh, Philip O’Loughlin, Dan Morrissey, Cathal King, John Fitzgibbon, William Hickey, Thomas O’Brien, Tommy Quaid, Micheal Ryan, Shane Dowling.

Wexford SH team v Limerick: Mark Fanning; Keith Rossiter, Matthew O’Hanlon, Bobby Kenny; Willie Devereux, Lee Chin, Eanna Martin; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Harry Kehoe; Shane Tomkins, Paul Morris, Ian Byrne; Jack Guiney, Gary Moore, Liam Og McGovern