Aidan O'Connor of Limerick and Conor Foley of Wexford after the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Limerick and Wexford at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
LIMERICK 1-12 WEXFORD 1-19
By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds
Wexford secured a morale boosting second victory of their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A campaign, making it two wins from six outings, after a seven point success away to Limerick.
The Shannonsiders end the league with three losses from four, and on five points (two wins and one draw).
Despite being named in the starting fifteen for the second time this year, Declan Hannon missed out, while Darragh O’Donovan made his first start since the 2023 All Ireland final after an injury hit 2024.
This was a contest that lacked the real intensity that had been seen in some of these sides displays to date. Poor control, inaccurate passing and dismal shooting were common themes.
Despite that, Keith Rossiter will have been impressed by the workrate of his charges, while the likes of Cian Molloy, Conor Hearne and Cathal Dunbar all stood out during an evening where the sides registered a combined 34 wides.
A bright start saw Adam English and Gearoid Hegarty on target – but they were the only scores those in green would manage from play in the first half.
Hearne and Chin were first on the mark for the winners, as they quickly got on top in the possession stakes.
After Chin missed three consecutive frees, the Faythe Harriers man steadied to land the next two to make it five points each after 18 minutes.
There was more injury woe for Mike Casey – the full-back withdrawing from the game after just 25 minutes after clashing with a Wexford player. From here Wexford dominated the scoring – rattling off the next four points to move into a three point lead.
Key to this run were points from Kevin Foley, Chin and a second from Conor Hearne, with Cathal Dunbar neatly completing this run. It could have been much, much better, with their wide count climbing to a massive thirteen, while they also had a great goal chance.
Rory O’Connor cut through the Limerick defence, offloaded to Jack O’Connor whose powerful effort was beaten away by Shane Dowling.
Limerick were totally off the pace but a late Diarmaid Byrnes effort meant it was 0-9 0-7 in favour of the Leinster side at the interval.
Two more wides, and two more points for the visitors gave them an air of superiority. However, Shane O’Brien struck for a fine goal on 40 minutes.
Initially, Mark Fanning was equal to the Kilmallock man’s effort, but he doubled on the rebound and found the bottom corner.
Tom Morrissey quickly replied with a point to level before a neat Wexford goal re-opened the lead.
Lee Chin did the hard work, running the ball straight at the defence, before handpassing to Foley who neatly finished from close range.
There was five points between the sides when Chin got his first from play, this time after 52 minutes, as both sides continued to show a lack of energy in many sectors. Scores from Cian Molloy and sub-Seamus Casey helped push Wexford into a winning position.
The introduction of Seamus Flanagan and Cian Lynch failed to ignite those in green – whose focus already appeared on a Munster date with Tipperary in a month's time.
Wexford, with this victory, keep Clare at the basement of the Division, with Division 1B the destination for both in 2026. Focus now turns to the Munster and Leinster Championships for these outfits.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-4 (0-4 frees); Shane O’Brien 1-0; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-1 free, 0-1 ’65); Tom Morrissey (0-1 free) 0-3 each; Adam English, Gearoid Hegarty 0-1; each.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-5 (0-4 frees); Kevin Foley 1-2; Cathal Dunbar 0-3; Conor Hearne, Rory O’Connor Seamus Casey (0-1 free) 0-2 each; Jack Redmond, Cian Molloy, Damien Reck 0-1 each.
Limerick: Shane Dowling; Vince Harrington, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Colin Coughlan, Cian Scully; Michaél Houlihan, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearóid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Adam English.
Subs: Sean Finn for Casey (26); Fergal O’Connor for Nash (blood – 43-45); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh for O’Brien (51); Eddie Stokes for Hegarty (51); Cian Lynch for O’Donovan (61); Seamus Flanagan for Gillane (64).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Cian Molloy, Shane Reck, Conor Foley, Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, Simon Donohue; Jack O’Connor, Lee Chin (Capt), Kevin Foley; Cathal Dunbar, Jack Redmond, Rory O’Connor.
Subs: Eoin Ryan for Lawlor (43); Seamus Casey for Redmond (54); Conall Clancy for J O’Connor (66); David Codd for Dunbarr (70); Darren Codd for Foley (70); Mike Kelly for Donohue (73).Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
