All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Phase 2 – Limerick v Wexford

Wexford overcome

Home fightback is in vain as two injury-time points send Limerick through to next phase

Limerick 1-13 Wexford 0-14

Report by Brendan Furlong for the Sunday Tribune newspaper

Wexford Park

TWO points deep in additional time saw Limerick overcome a gallant Wexford challenge in this enthralling All Ireland SHC Qualifier played in appalling conditions at Wexford Park yesterday evening. Despite the incessant rain both sides served up a stirring opening 35 minutes. It was always going to be difficult but the players produced some nice first touches leading to some excellent scores. After Niall Moran and Diarmuid Lyng, with a free, had exchanged points during the opening five minutes, it was Limerick replacement full-forward Patrick McNamara picked off two excellent points to leave his side leading 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes. Wexford, given the fact they were short so many regulars, were dependant on their more experienced players to lead by example. Rory Jacob, who had been having such an indifferent season, shot a point, while Willie Doran, who was having a huge tussle with Brian Geary, picked off a long-range point to put the sides level, 0-3 each after 12 minutes.

The respective defences enjoyed their share of luck in front of goal. As Wexford reshuffled their attack it was Rory Jacob who pointed the Model County in front for the first time after 14 minutes, but the Shannonsiders struck back a minute later for the opening goal. Andrew O’Shaughnessy won possession close to the sideline, shook off Malachy Travers and his low hard shot beat Damian Fitzhenry at his right-hand post, to put his side in front, 1-3 to 0-4. As the tempo of the game picked up, David Redmond and Gavin O’Mahoney exchanged points, but Wexford then struck four unanswered scores through Willie Doran, Rory Jacob, Diarmuid Lyng (free) and Jacob once again to lead 0-9 to 1-7, 27 minutes into the game. Wexford were now applying the pressure with Stephen Doyle hit the crossbar. The sides finished the half with two points apiece, Seamus Hickey and Patrick McNamara, a delightful effort off the sideline, with Lyng having pointed free for the home side, leaving the Model County side ahead 0-11 to 1-6 at the interval.

The second half produced a marvellous tussle as both sides set about taking the initiative and points from Donal O’Grady and Donnacha Sheehan brought the sides level. Limerick were now playing with more purpose with Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Seamus Hickey and O’Shaughnessy once again, finding the target putting their side into a 1-11 to 0-11 lead after 55 minutes. Wexford’s battling qualities shone though as they responded with points from Lyng, Stephen Doyle and a Lyng free two minutes from the end, bringing the sides level, 1-11 to 0-14. With extra time beckoning, it was Limerick who finished strongest in the six minutes of additional time with points from Patrick McNamara and substitute James Ryan to secure their passage through to the next phase.

Limerick B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan; S Hickey (0-2), B Geary, M Foley; G O’Mahoney (0-1, free), D O’Grady (0-1); J Ryan (0-1), W McNamara, N Moran (0-1); D Sheehan (0-1), P McNamara (0-4), A O’Shaughnessy (1-2, 0-2 frees) Subs P Browne for Moran 10 mins; M O’Brien for W McNamara 30 mins; James Ryan for J Ryan 49 mins; D Moloney for O’Riordan 49 mins; O Moran for O’Grady 55 mins

Wexford D Fitzhenry; M Travers, P Roche, K Rossiter; D Stamp, R Kehoe, C Kenny; H Kehoe, D Lyng (0-6, 0-4 frees); PJ Nolan, W Doran (0-2), R Jacob (0-4); D Redmond (0-1), E Martin, S Doyle (0-1) Subs M Jacob for Nolan, 55 mins; S Banville for Martin 66 mins; J Berry for Redmond 66 mins

Referee M Wadding (Waterford)

McNamara breathes life back into Limerick

By Ruaidhri O’Connor for the Irish Independent newspaper

Monday July 13 2009

The last time Limerick beat Wexford in a senior hurling championship game the 1918 All-Ireland final had been delayed until January 1919 due to an outbreak of influenza. The GAA will hope swine flu doesn’t have a similar impact on this year’s showpiece but the Shannonsiders won’t mind the omens as on that day they lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup, something they haven’t done now for 26 years. It was a little revenge for the dark days they’ve endured against the south-easterners since, most notably the 1996 All-Ireland final, but they won’t get ahead of themselves after this result.

They did, however, show a fighting spirit that will stand to them in later stages after losing four players to injury. In a match notable for its skill levels, despite being played in the torrential downpour and on a pitch that had just endured 90 minutes of football, the eventual winners had dominated the second half only for their opponents to storm back in the closing stages. Level after 70 minutes in Wexford Park on Saturday, the home side looked favourites heading into injury-time, having come back from a goal down with three consecutive points, only for debutant Paudie McNamara to score a fine point to edge Limerick in front, with substitute James Ryan finishing the job.

Their manager Justin McCarthy was understandably delighted with his charges. “Weather-wise, it was one of the worst days for hurling I’ve seen for a long, long time. The field was good and sewn right but you couldn’t blame a fellah for losing a game there,” he said. “We were so determined that we weren’t going to be knocked out of this championship, there’s life still in Limerick. We had to create the spirit since we were beaten by Waterford and some of the seasoned players led the way and that’s what counted at the end.” Wexford will feel that this was one that got away, having played the better hurling for much of the first half.

Rory Jacob was particularly impressive during the period, notching four fine points, but he may rue his decisions not to push in for goals when opting to put the ball over the bar instead. Andrew O’Shaughnessy did put the ball in the net to keep Limerick in touch and it’s one Damien Fitzhenry won’t want to see again, a low effort somehow trickling underneath him on 16 minutes. But, having lost the influential Niall Moran, they were somewhat fortunate to trail by just two points at the break, with their big full-forward McNamara scoring a sublime point from the left touchline after Damien Reale made a crucial intervention at the other end.

After the interval they pushed on, keeping Wexford scoreless for 30 minutes as conditions worsened. In that period, Limerick notched up five successive points, with Seamus Hickey’s run and shot the pick, before the pendulum swung and two points from Diarmuid Lyng and another from Stephen Doyle levelled the scores. With six minutes of added-time and the crowd on their feet, the odds were against Limerick but McNamara clutched Hickey’s pass and swung the crucial point over.

SCORERS — Limerick: A O’Shaughnessy 1-2 (0-2f), P McNamara 0-4, S Hickey 0-2, G O’Mahony (1f), D O’Grady, N Moran, D Sheehan, J O’Brien 0-1 each. Wexford: D Lyng 0-6 (4f), R Jacob 0-4, W Doran 0-2, S Doyle, D Redmond 0-1 each.

LIMERICK — B Murray 6; D Reale 8, S Lucey 7, M O’Riordan 6; S Hickey 9, B Geary 6, M Foley 7; G O’Mahoney 6, D O’Grady 6; J Ryan 6, W McNamara 6, N Moran 7; D Sheehan 7, P McNamara 8, A O’Shaughnessy 8. Subs: P Browne 6 for N Moran (22), M O’Brien 6 for W McNamara (31), D Moloney 6 for O’Riordan (49), J Ryan 6 for Ryan (49), O Moran 6 for O’Grady (55).

WEXFORD — D Fitzhenry 5; M Travers 7, P Roche 6, K Rossiter 5; D Stamp 6, R Kehoe 7, C Kenny 6; H Kehoe 6, D Lyng 8; PJ Nolan 7, W Doran 7, R Jacob 8; D Redmond 6, E Martin 6, S Doyle 6. Subs: M Jacob 5 for Nolan (56), S Banville for Redmond (66), J Berry for Martin (66).

REF — M Wadding (Waterford)

Limerick show they have the character

From the Irish Times newspaper

Limerick 1-13 Wexford 0-14: IT WAS a miserable afternoon in Wexford Park as Limerick showed their character with two injury- time points to charge past Wexford in this All-Ireland senior hurling championship qualifier game on Saturday afternoon. Wexford were winning possession through the second quarter of the opening period, a 15-minute passage of play in which they outscored the Shannonsiders 0-7 to 0-2, but their failure to score a goal came back to haunt them. In the 20th minute a Stephen Doyle ball picked out Rory Jacob but having swivelled around his marker, he elected to point from 10 metres when a goal was there for the taking with only Brian Murray to beat.

Despite the incessant rain, both sides served up a stirring opening 35 minutes. It was always going to be difficult and surface water appeared to make it even more so but still the sides produced nice first touches, leading to some excellent scores. The conditions deteriorated but Wexford seemed to be coping better, particularly when they elected to play a more direct style of hurling. It was in the half-forward line the home side were faring best, with centre forward Willie Doran picking off two excellent points, while the return to form of Rory Jacob during this period was welcome as he chipped in with four points.

Limerick were digging deep, with the half-back line of Séamus Hickey, Brian Geary and Mark Foley becoming more influential. Hickey struck a rallying call after a great run out of defence, while Patrick McNamara, a late call-up to full forward, struck over two marvellous points. Wexford, short so many regulars, were dependent on their more experienced players to lead by example. Rory Jacob shot a point, while Doran, who was having a huge tussle with Brian Geary, picked off a long range point to have the sides level, 0-3 each after 12 minutes. Rory Jacob put the Model County in front for the first time after 14 minutes, but the Shannonsiders struck back one minute later for the opening goal.

Andrew O’Shaughnessy, having won possession out close to the sideline, shook off defender Malachy Travers on his path to goal and beat Damian Fitzhenry at his right hand post with a low, hard shot. David Redmond and Gavin O’Mahoney exchanged points, before Wexford struck four unanswered points through Doran, Rory Jacob, Diarmuid Lyng (free) and Jacob once again to lead 0-9 to 1-4. Limerick’s Hickey and Patrick McNamara, a delightful effort off the sideline, traded points with Lyng to leave Wexford leading 0-11 to 1-6 ahead at the interval.

Early second-half points from Donal O’Grady and Donnacha Sheehan had the sides level but points from O’Shaughnessy, Hickey and O’Shaughnessy once again, earned Limerick a 1-11 to 0-11 lead after 59 minutes. Wexford responded with points from Lyng, Stephen Doyle and Lyng’s free two minutes from the end, brought the sides level, 1-11 to 0-14. With extra-time beckoning it was Limerick who finished strongest in the six minutes of additional time with points from McNamara and substitute James Ryan proving enough to secure their passage through to the next phase. Limerick manager Justin McCarthy was happy with his side’s response: “It was clearly a most difficult day for hurling. It was a case of battling through the elements but credit to the lads, they showed tremendous spirit and commitment to sneak victory in the end. Given the conditions one would have to admire their display.”

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; M Travers, P Roche, K Rossiter; D Stamp, R Kehoe, C Kenny; H Kehoe, D Lyng (0-6, four frees); PJ Nolan, W Doran (0-2), R Jacob (0-4); D Redmond (0-1), E Martin, S Doyle (0-1). Subs: M Jacob for Nolan (55 mins), S Banville for Martin (66 mins), J Berry for Redmond (66 mins).

LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan; S Hickey (0-2), B Geary, M Foley; G O’Mahoney (0-1, free), D O’Grady (0-1); J Ryan (0-1), W McNamara, N Moran (0-1); D Sheehan (0-1), P McNamara (0-4), A O’Shaughnessy (1-2, two frees). Subs: P Browne for Moran (10 mins), M O’Brien for W McNamara (30 mins), James Ryan for J Ryan (49 mins), D Moloney for O’Riordan (49 mins), O Moran for O’Grady (55 mins).

Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

Snippets

Wexford v Limerick, Wexford Park, Saturday, 7.0pm

Last Five Championship Clashes

2001: Wexford 4-10 Limerick 2-15 (2001 All-Ireland quarter-final)

1996: Wexford 1-13 Limerick 0-14 (All-Ireland final)

1955: Wexford 2-12 Limerick 2-3 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1918: Limerick 9-5 Wexford 1-3 (All-Ireland final)

1910: Wexford 7-0 Limerick 6-2 (All-Ireland final)

2009 Championship

Wexford 2-17 Offaly 0-16

Dublin 0-18 Wexford 1-13

Waterford 0-11 Limerick 1-8 (draw)

Waterford 0-25 Limerick 0-17 (replay)