Clinical Wexford reach another high in Tailteann dismissal of Limerick

A convincing win for the Model County in their opening round game.

Conor Foley of Wexford in action against Limerick. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Tailteann Cup Round 1: Wexford 2-19 (2-3-11) Limerick 1-11 (1-4-3) 

Comfortable, convincing and another result to add to Wexford’s long list of footballing highs for 2026. A clinical display ensured they saw off Limerick at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday evening in their Tailteann Cup opener.

By half time the hosts were six points clear and good value for it. In a spell of two minutes during the second half Wexford doubled that advantage, and whatever faint hope Limerick had carried down the tunnel was gone with 39 minutes played.

The first came from Liam O’Connor after Glen Malone’s driving run down the flank, which he passed across for O’Connor to convert. The second was better again, Cathal Kehoe, Sean Nolan and Mark Rossiter all involved as they carved the Treatymen open, before Rossiter offloaded to Michael Kinsella and he finished to the net.

Limerick were never going to come back from that deficit even with the breeze. While they kicked four second-half two pointers, that’s all they managed in the latter act. Wexford did more than enough to keep them at bay, particularly from play. But with just under 10 minutes to go, Limerick’s evening went from bad to worse when they were reduced to 13 men.

Darragh O’Hagan was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Barry Coleman and a subsequent black card arrived for Mark McCarthy as a result of his contribution to the melee.

At that stage the game was long over, though. Wexford were 2-16 to 1-9 ahead when the cards were flashed, and the hosts added two more white flags when Cathal Kehoe set up Rossiter and Robbie Brooks fisted over.

James Naughton added his second two-point free near the conclusion for Limerick, but Jimmy Lee’s side finished 11 points adrift.

Michael Kinsella of Wexford scores their second goal. Pic ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Wexford started with the strong breeze and made the most of the advantage it offered, as David Brooks kicked an early two-point free before the impressive Ben Brosnan raised one from play.

By the time the Shannonsiders finally got off the mark 20 minutes had passed, and Wexford had already added on a couple of white flags to take their lead to five.

Limerick raised three more white flags throughout that opening period, with the hosts building their cushion to nine as Brosnan and Seán Nolan continued to find space to shoot.

Jimmy Lee’s Limerick men did fashion a goal opportunity just before half-time which Mark McCarthy buried, but Wexford’s goals on the restart ensured there would be no second-half fear for the Model County.

Scorers for Wexford: B Brosnan (0-6, 2 tp), L O’Connor, M Kinsella (1-0 each), D Brooks (0-3, 1 tpf), P Hughes, T Byrne, S Nolan (0-2 each), G Malone, C Kehoe, M Rossiter, R Brooks (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: J Naughton (0-4, 2 tpf), M McCarthy (1-0), B Coleman (0-3, 1 tp), E Riordan (0-2, 1 tp) R O’Brien, C Fahy (0-1 each).

WEXFORD: D Brooks; L O’Connor, E Porter, D Furlong; G Sheehan, L Coleman, G Malone; C Kehoe, E Nolan (c); P Hughes, M Kinsella, T Byrne; B Brosnan, S Nolan, M Rossiter.

Subs: S Doyle for Porter (58), M O’Connor for Hughes (60), R Brooks for Brosnan, A Breen for Kinsella (both 62).

LIMERICK: J Alfred; S Kilbridge, C Woulfe, D Buckley; M McCarthy, K Ryan, T McCarthy; C McSweeney, B Coleman; R Childs, C Fahy (c), R O’Brien; E Riordan, J Naughton, D Neville.

Subs: D O’Hangan for R O’Brien (HT), P Maher for Ryan (48), K Mullins for Childs (58-FT temp), P Nash for Neville (58), D O’Doherty for Woulfe (64).

Referee: S Mulhare (Laois)