'I couldn’t begin to tell you the enormity of the result' - Limerick load up on drama in Wexford win
JIMMY'S WINNING MATCHES: Limerick Manager Jimmy Lee. Pic: Noel
ON THE road into Rathkeale, a large yellow sign advertises the Knockaderry/Clouncagh Drama Group’s upcoming production of a Wake in the West. Don’t be fooled by the title, the two-act play is, in fact, a comedy.
Another local wake was playing out at Mick Neville Park Sunday afternoon. And there wasn’t a bit comedic about it. The hosts, having trailed throughout, were headed for successive League defeats and a three-game winless start on their return to Division 3.
The swell of momentum and energy surrounding Limerick football following last season’s league promotion and Tailteann Cup final run were in danger of being further swamped by pressure and pessimism.
The fine actors of Knockaderry and Clouncagh will do well in their upcoming production to match the drama that played out during the final act at Rathkeale. A five-point swing from the 69th minute onward. A first Limerick win of 2026. An invaluable two points to deflate both the pressure and pessimism gathering outside the home dressing-room.
Wexford traveled west as Division 3 leaders. They were chasing a third consecutive win in the League’s third tier for the first time since 2012. And when Seán Nolan (free) and Jack Higgins threw over successive scores for a four-point lead on 68 minutes, the visitors were firmly on course to bridge that 14-year gap.
James Naughton’s second orange flag of the day halved the visiting lead as the clock spilled into injury-time. And it was Naughton who was central to the winning major. Slipped through by Danny Neville, his side-footed effort along the ground rolled across the face of the goal where sub Peter Nash was present to squeeze home.
Wexford immediately went hunting an equaliser. The allotted three minutes had passed. An almighty roar erupted out of Mick Neville Park when a stray handpass deep in the Limerick half brought an end to the Wexford hunt and game itself.
“I couldn’t begin to tell you the enormity of the result,” said Limerick manager Jimmy Lee.
“The tension was high today, everything was high. You could see the relief on our side when the final whistle went. That’s the realness of it. It was that important to us.
“How deep they dug was absolutely phenomenal. You try to put it into words, but the pressure it does take off the system in terms of just getting that first win is extremely important. If you went three games without a win, you’re under pressure.”
Limerick were similarly winless heading into Round 3 of the 2025 League edition. Victory away to London on that occasion cut the tape on a six-game unbeaten run that brought League ribbons at Croker. The Treaty boss is looking for a similar bounce 12 months on.
“You’d be hoping we can build from here and keep going. Let’s see where the journey will take us. We head to Sligo next week. There are fine lines between every team in this division,” he continued.
“You look at our midfield today, it was patched up. Sean Clancy played out of his skin, that lad lost his mam last year. There is fierce character in him. We have a lot of injuries, a lot of people still to come back, so it is an extremely good result.”
Cillian Fahy was one influential name to come off the injury list for this game. He kicked a first-half pair and added a third in the closing 10 minutes.
The visitors played with the gale in the opening period. The visitors were fascinated with the orange flag across this opening period. A fascination that was to their detriment. Its lesser white relative was routinely eschewed so as to work possession back outside the arc. From eight two-point attempts, only Dylan Furlong and Cathal Kehoe were successful.
The irony was that when forced to break lines and carry possession against the gale in the second half, Wexford’s attacking play was far more incisive and coherent.
Their four-point interval lead was restored by a Niall Hughes goal on 50 minutes. They again carried a four-point advantage towards the 70-minute mark. They were caught. A cruel end to Wexford’s winning start.
“This group never believe they are beaten. The softer option at the end would have been to take the free, which we had, but they kept going after the goal, so hats off to them,” Lee concluded.
J Naughton (0-7, 2p, 2p free, 0-1 free); C Fahy (0-3); P Nash (1-0); E O’Riordan (tp), R Childs (0-2 each); T McCarthy (0-1).
S Nolan (0-4, 0-2 frees); N Hughes (1-0); D Furlong (tp), C Kehoe (tp, 0-2 each); E Porter, G Malone, L Coleman, J Higgins, T Byrne, M Rossiter (0-1 each).
: J Alfred; J Hassett, D Buckley, O Collins; E O’Riordan, K Ryan, T McCarthy; S Clancy, B Coleman; J Naughton, C McSweeney, A Meade; C Fahy, D Neville, R Childs.
P Maher for McSweeney (48); P Nash for Meade (53); J Dineen for Clancy (66).
: D Brooks; G Sheehan, L O’Connor, D Furlong; G Malone, E Porter, S Doyle; L Coleman, N Hughes; C Kehoe, M Rossiter, P Hughes; T Byrne, J Higgins, S Nolan.
: E Nolan for Doyle (HT); C Hughes for Byrne (51); C Feeney for Rossiter, R Martin for Malone (both 65).
: C Ryan (Galway).
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