Limerick 2-23
Wexford 0-15

GOALS FROM LIMERICK’S Graeme Mulcahy and Declan Hannon in the second half finally shook off a resilient Wexford as TJ Ryan’s side got their 1B campaign off to a victorious start.

It was a stunning opening 35 minutes that gave Limerick the foundations for the win as they led 0-16 to 0-4 at half-time.

But Wexford were lifted after the restart and hit seven of the first eight points of the half to close the deficit to six points.

However, substitute Mulcahy was on hand to flash a ground stroke past Mark Fanning in the Wexford goal after 50 minutes which brought a halt to their comeback intentions, while Hannon made doubly sure in injury time.

For Limerick, Paul Browne was the stand-out performer and his four points and creativity from midfield played a huge role in his side’s dominance.

In reality this game was dead and buried from a Wexford view after 19 minutes when Limerick led by 0-10 to 0-1 as five different players got off the mark in that spell.

Youngsters Barry Nash and Tom Morrissey were particularly dangerous up front for Limerick, while John Fitzgibbon was industrious alongside Browne.

Wexford did show well either side of half-time as the sharp shooting of Harry Kehoe and a couple of points from Andrew Shore reduced Limerick’s lead to 0-17 to 0-11 after 49 minutes.

But that was as good as it got for Liam Dunne’s side, who conceded twice before the end and fell to a heavy defeat first time out.

Scorers for Limerick: D Hannon 1-4 (0-3f), G Mulcahy 1-1, P Browne & D Byrnes (0-3f) 0-4 each; B Nash, G O’Mahony & T Morrissey 0-2 each; J Fitzgibbon, D Reidy, C Lynch & S Tobin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: H Kehoe 0-6 (0-6 f); A Shore, L Chin, I Byrne (0-2 f) 0-2 each; M O’Hanlon, L Óg McGovern, S Murphy 0-1 each.

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Richie English (Doon)

5. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)
6. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
7. Seamus Hickey (Murroe Boher)

8. John Fitzgibbon (Adare)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)

15. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
11. Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock)
10. David Reidy (Dromon Athlacca)

13. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
14. Declan Hannon (Adare)
12. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

Subs:
24. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Nash (47mins)
22. Darragh O’Donovan (Pallasgreen) for Fitzgibbon (53)
23. Sean Tobin (Patrickswell) for Reidy (61)

Wexford

1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)

5. Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
4. James Breen (Adamstown)

6. Andrew Shore (Parnells, Dublin)
2. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
7. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn)

8. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
9. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbraw)

13. Cathal Dunbar (Ballygarrett)
11. Aidan Nolan (Half Way House/Bunclody)
12. Ian Byrne (Ferns St Aidans)

15. David Dunne (Davidstown/Courtnacuddy)
24. Shane Tompkins (Askamore Kilrush)
10. Liam Og McGovern (St Annes)

Subs:
18. Shaun Murphy (Oulart The Ballagh) for Dunbar (27mins)
17. Eoin Conroy (Naomh Eanna) for Foley (36)
19. Eoin Moore (Oulart The Ballagh) for Nolan (36)
21. Podge Doran (Oylegate/Glenbrien) for Byrne (36)
20. Jack O’Connor (St Martins) for Tompkins (58)

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)​

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