Wexford off to a flier with commanding defeat of Limerick
Wexford established strong credentials for the Tailteann Cup with Saturday's crushing opening round victory over fervent rivals Limerick at sunny Chadwicks Wexford Park.The home-side ended a run of three straight defeats to the Shannonsiders – including last year’s Allianz Football League Division 4 league final together with the Tailteann Cup quarter-final – after defender Liam O’Connor and Michael Kinsella struck for second-half goals.Wexford now await the draw for the winners’ section of the competition, while Limerick, last year’s beaten Tailteann Cup finalists, must look to redeem themselves via the losers’ section.Significantly Darragh Brooks returned for Wexford after the 'keeper and two-point marvel missed the Leinster championship loss to Louth through injury.And he supplied the ice-breaker for wind-assisted Wexford – a third-minute two-pointer free – before Ben Brosnan raised a further orange flag from play after being picked out by Mark Rossiter.Brooks underlined his importance to John Hegarty’s challengers when producing a point-blank save in the sixth minute to deny Limerick captain Cillian Fahy after Fahy exchanged passes with Robbie Childs.The Limerick net had a considerable let off in the twelfth minute when Wexford sharpshooter Seán Nolan’s goaling effort took a deflection on its way over the crossbar, and Brosnan quickly increased the margin to 0-6 to no-score after thirteen minutes.Limerick fired three wides before centre-forward Rory O’Brien eventually got them off the mark after twenty minutes.And Cillian Fahy along with midfielder Barry Coleman landed further scores for Jimmy Lee’s charges.But Wexford continued to control matters, with Brosnan adding a second personal two-pointer, while Cathal Kehoe, Tom Byrne, Seán Nolan and Páraic Hughes opened-up a 0-12 to 0-03 margin after 27 minutes.Michael Kinsella was denied a goal for the home-side before Limerick gained a lifeline through an element of good fortune in the 33rd minute.Indeed, Eliah Riordan’s shot was tamely dropping towards the Wexford goal when unmarked Limerick defender Mark McCarthy nipped in and tucked home to cut the margin to 0-12 to 1-03 at the change-of-ends.But the home-side rocked the Limerick when netting a couple of goals within four minutes of the resumption.Defenders Glen Malone and Liam O’Connor combined in the 37th minute, with Malone from the left end-line locating O’Connor to slam home.And Michael Kinsella blew open a 2-12 to 1-03 chasm after 39 minutes when Mark Rossiter’s cross found him unmarked in front of goal.Limerick made in-roads with two-pointers from James Naughton (free), Barry Coleman and Eliah Riordan after 52 minutes (2-13 to 1-09).But Liam O’Connor went close to netting a second personal major for Wexford after 55 minutes - Tom Byrne fisting over the rebound – as the hosts reasserted (2-17 to 1-09).Limerick’s faint hopes suffered a serious blow following a double dismissal in the 61st minute – sub Peter Nash being red-carded and Mark McCarthy sin-binned after Wexford midfielder Liam Coleman was left prone on the ground.Wexford: Darragh Brooks (0-03, 1tpf); Gavin Sheehan, Eoin Porter, Liam O’Connor (1-00); Glen Malone (0-01), Eoghan Nolan, Dylan Furlong; Liam Coleman, Cathal Kehoe (0-01); Michael Kinsella (1-00) Páraic Hughes (0-02), Mark Rossiter (0-01); Ben Brosnan (0-06, 2tp), Tom Byrne (0-02), Seán Nolan (0-02).Subs: Shane Doyle for Porter (57), Martin O’Connor for Hughes (59), Aaron Breen for Kinsella (62), Robbie Brooks (0-01) for Brosnan (62), Patrick Breen for Malone (65).Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Seán Kilbridge, Cormac Woulfe, Diarmuid Buckley; Mark McCarthy (1-00), Killian Ryan, Tony McCarthy; Barry Coleman (0-03, 1tp), Colm McSweeney; Danny Neville, Eliah Riordan (0-02, 1tp), Cillian Fahy (0-01); Rory O’Brien (0-01), James Naughton (0-04, 2tpf), Robbie Childs.Subs: Darragh O’Hagan for O’Brien (HT), Paul Maher for Ryan (47), Kyle Mullins for Childs (57), Peter Nash for Neville (57), Darren O’Doherty for Woulfe (64).
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