Wexford underline promotion credentials with victory over blunt Limerick
TOP SCORER: Wexford's Seán Nolan finished with eight points to his name against Limerick. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Wexford copper fastened their credentials for a Division Four promotion hunt after a richly deserved victory away to Limerick in Rathkeale.
A somewhat efficient second half from John Hegarty’s charges meant their wastefulness in the opening half wasn’t punished by a Limerick side still in pursuit of a first League victory since 2022.
Limerick’s lack of a cutting edge on Sunday afternoon was emphasised by four scorers over the 70 plus minutes, with just five scores (including one two-pointer) all Jimmy Lee’s men could muster.
There was a dominance on their own kick out for Colum Feeney and the Slaneysiders and this was certainly an avenue for so many of their good attacks during the contest.
They had an accurate shooter in the form of Sean Nolan and his two-point free, as well as one from play from Páiric Hughes, helped them take control in the third quarter.
After a cagey opening period, James Naughton’s accurate frees got Limerick going but they were having to defend deep against a Wexford side that had Shane Petit pulling the strings.
Good work from Niall Hughes got the games first point from play as the visitors looked way more likely to work the umpires.
A sloppy Limerick kickout saw Kevin O’Grady turn over the ball. He fed Horeswood man Sean Nolan who, bearing down on goal, saw his effort brilliantly smothered by Treaty stopper, Josh Ryan.
Youngster Emmet Rigter has firmly established himself as an integral part of this Limerick side, and his accurate left-boot saw him land a two-pointer on 21 minutes. It was a first for Jimmy Lee’s men, having failed to land one in their draw against Longford.
The same man kicked another two points, however both of these were just inside the 40-meter arc, but nevertheless they were welcomed by the couple of hundred in attendance.
The home side led by the minimum at the interval, with Rigter’s two pointer the difference between the sides, 0-7 to 0-6.
Kevin O’Grady, Mark Rossiter and then Nolan’s two-point free gave Wexford a two-point buffer, with a James Naughton free for a three v three infraction light reprieve for the Shannonsiders.
The class of Páiric Hughes saw him kick a long-ranger of his own, and when he added a single shortly afterwards, they looked likely victors.
Andrew Meade did carry the late Limerick threat but Glen Malone, Martin O’Connor and Nolan’s late frees sealed the away victory, to add to the facile win over London last week.
A three v three in fraction apiece during the contest, as well as several solo and go’s, were about the extent of the new rules. There was a lack of goal threat from direct kicking with the only advanced mark not required when Nolan curled over a point during the second half.
J Naughton 0-6 (0-6 frees); E Rigter 0-4 ( 1 2p); A Meade 0-2; P Nash 0-1 (free).
S Nolan 0-8 (0-3 frees; 1 2p free); P Hughes 0-3 (1 tp); N Hughes, C Feeney (45), K O’Grady, M Rossiter, G Malone, M O’Connor 0-1 each.
J Ryan; C McSweeney, F Cotter, M McCarthy; B Coleman, K Ryan, T McCarthy; T Childs, E Rigter; P Maher, J Naughton, C Fahy (C); P Nash, R Childs, A Meade.
I Corbett for Ryan, D O’Hagan for T Childs (both half-time); M McCarthy for Coleman (51); D Ó Siochru for Nash (56); T Ó Siochru for Meade (69).
C Feeney; M Furlong, G Sheehan, M O’Connor; E Porter, P Hughes, G Malone; T Byrne, N Hughes; E Nolan (C), S Pettit, M Rossiter; S Ryan, S Nolan, K O’Grady.
D Furlong for Brosnan (49); S Ryan for O’Grady (58); C Walsh for Petit (65); C Carty for Rossiter (69).
C Ryan (Galway).
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