Limerick and Tipp pounce on weaknesses
Sadly this game was over at half-time. Limerick looked sharper and hungrier from the opening whistle and didn’t look to have suffered from their lay-off since the Munster final. They played with the aid of a fresh breeze and when Shane Dowling knocked in their third goal just before half time the contest was over. Limerick’s midfield and half forwards were too pacy for their Wexford counterparts who didn’t have the same energetic enthusiasm as they displayed in the last few weekends. Limerick scored 3-15 in this half as well as shooting 10 wides. The latter stat will concern manager TJ Ryan but he will be more than pleased with this comprehensive victory as the Treaty side will take a great deal of confidence from this win.
Wexford needed to get everything right from the start of this game to win. Podge Doran was wide in the first minute after a nice move put him into space. He then failed to take a good goal chance on 14 minutes when he might have taken it on another five metres while free-taker Paul Morris missed an easy chance. These misses drained the team of the early confidence they enjoyed in previous matches. Dangerous full-forward Conor McDonald played inside for almost 30 minutes yet not one ball was played into him in that time. Liam Óg Mc Govern played directly in front of him 30 metres from goal. This barred the path to the full forward as Limerick’s Seamus Hickey completely dominated against the Wexford speedster. Hickey was immense although with one standout moment. He won a great ball in the air, transferred intelligently to James Ryan who hit an inspirational point on 24 minutes. Jack Guiney, corner forward on the programme operated out the field, drawing Limerick corner back Tom Condon with him. But Condon is very comfortable operating in space and he won this battle, driving his side on and providing opportunities for Shane Dowling and the other forwards to show their skills.
