Tailteann Cup: Impressive Wexford triumph

Tailteann Cup Round One

Wexford 2-19 Limerick 1-11

By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park

Defender Liam O’Connor and Michael Kinsella pounced with early second-half goals as Wexford outstripped last year’s beaten finalists Limerick in Saturday’s Tailteann Cup opener at sunny Chadwicks Wexford Park.

The result represented sweet revenge for Wexford who had succumbed to Jimmy Lee’s charges in their previous three encounters, including last year’s Division Four league final and Tailteann Cup quarter-final.

John Hegarty’s crew capitalised upon first advantage of the wind to build a tidy 0-12 to 1-3 interval lead, before putting the game beyond doubt with their quick-fire second-half goals.

Wexford were hurting after their heavy Leinster championship exit to Louth, but were significantly boosted by regaining goalie and two-point maestro Darragh Brooks from injury.

And the orange-flag machine drew first-blood for the wind-assisted locals when slotting a two-pointer free in the third minute, before veteran Ben Brosnan followed in kind from play two minutes later (0-4 to 0-0).

Brooks further underlined his value when denying Cillian Fahy a sixth-minute goal, before Seán Nolan and Brosnan singles swelled Wexford’s account after 13 minutes.

Limerick had kicked three early wides, but Rory O’Brien eventually got them off the mark after 20 minutes, 0-6 to 0-1.

While Fahy and the industrious Barry Coleman made further additions for the Shannonsiders, Wexford eased 0-12 to 0-3 clear after 27 minutes.

Brosnan supplied a second two-pointer as Cathal Kehoe, Tom Byrne, Seán Nolan and Páraic Hughes drove further daylight between the sides.

But Limerick gained a 33^rd minute lifeline when an effort from Eliah Riordan was snapped upon on the edge of the Wexford square by defender Mark McCarthy, who calmly slotted home to cut the gap to 0-12 to 1-3 at half-time.

However, Limerick prospects took a considerable nose-dive after Wexford slotted two goals without reply inside four minutes of the resumption.

Wexford defenders Glen Malone and Liam O’Connor combined for the first in the 37^th minute – Malone from the left end-line finding O’Connor to crash to the net.

Michael Kinsella gained satisfaction following his near miss in the opening period as he put the margin to 2-12 to 1-3 after being located unmarked by a cross from Mark Rossiter.

Limerick attempted to resurrect something when closing to within 2-13 to 1-9 after 52 minutes courtesy of two-pointers from James Naughton, Barry Coleman and Eliah Riordan.

But Wexford quickly reasserted, with Liam O’Connor being denied a second goal, before they gained a two-man numerical advantage after Limerick sub Peter Nash was red-carded and Mark McCarthy sin-binned.

Late scores from Mark Rossiter and sub Robbie Brooks crowned a statement-victory for the Model County crew.

Scorers for Wexford: Ben Brosnan 0-6 (2tp), Darragh Brooks 0-3 (1tp), Liam O’Connor, Michael Kinsella 1-0 each, Páraic Hughes, Tom Byrne, Seán Nolan 0-2 each, Glen Malone, Cathal Kehoe, Mark Rossiter, Robbie Brooks 0-1 each

Scorers for Limerick: James Naughton 0-4 (2tpf), Barry Coleman 0-3 (1tp), Mark McCarthy 1-0, Eliah Riordan 0-2 (1tp), Rory O’Brien, Cillian Fahy 0-1 each.

Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Gavin Sheehan, Eoin Porter, Liam O’Connor; Glen Malone, Eoghan Nolan, Dylan Furlong; Liam Coleman, Cathal Kehoe; Michael Kinsella, Páraic Hughes, Mark Rossiter; Ben Brosnan, Tom Byrne, Seán Nolan.

Subs: Shane Doyle for Porter (57), Martin O’Connor for Hughes (59), Aaron Breen for Kinsella (62), Robbie Brooks for Brosnan (62), Patrick Breen for Malone (65).

Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Seán Kilbridge, Cormac Woulfe, Diarmuid Buckley; Mark McCarthy, Killian Ryan, Tony McCarthy; Barry Coleman, Colm McSweeney; Danny Neville, Eliah Riordan, Cillian Fahy; Rory O’Brien, James Naughton. Robbie Childs.

Subs: Darragh O’Hagan for O’Brien (HT), Paul Maher for Ryan (47), Kyle Mullins for Childs (57), Peter Nash for Neville (57), Darren O’Doherty for Woulfe (64).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).