Tailteann Cup R2B: Impressive Wicklow advance

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Wicklow 4-17 Limerick 2-14

Limerick’s Tailteann Cup dream is over, while Wicklow advance to the last 12 courtesy of a well-deserved nine-point win built on a fantastic run of scoring in the third quarter.

Even with the breeze behind them, Limerick will have been very pleased with a 2-10 to 2-6 lead at half-time, especially as the half had threatened to get away from them. Eoin Murtagh finished a fantastic Wicklow move for a 1-0 to 0-2 lead after four minutes, and that goal more than cancelled out Barry Coleman’s two-pointer, slotted over seconds after the throw-in.

But midway through the half, it was Limerick on top at 1-5 to 1-1. There was no stopping James Naughton’s penalty, smashed home shortly after Darragh Fee pulled him down in the square.

The first-half was a topsy turvy affair, with the lead switching wildly between the teams, and by the time Pádraig O’Toole knocked home an excellent goal in the 26th minute, Wicklow had turned the game on its head with 1-4 without reply. Unfortunately for the home team, Limerick would return that favour, outscoring Wicklow by 1-5 to 0-1 in the nine minutes remaining.

Neville and Cillian Fahy provided Limerick’s second and third two-pointers in that period, bringing the number of first-half two-pointers to four overall, and Danny Neville’s chip over Mark Jackson on 33 minutes certainly gave the Treaty at the edge at the break.

But Wicklow were comfortably the better team in the second half, holding Limerick scoreless until the 56th minute, and they obliterated the Treaty in the third quarter.

In that period, Mark Jackson added a two-pointer, but it was captain fantastic Dean Healy who truly turned the game in the Garden’s favour.

Healy goaled within a minute of the restart and added a two-pointer shortly after to put Wicklow a point up inside three minutes of second-half play. Limerick were granted an opportunity when Jonathan Carlin was sent to the line with 15 minutes to play for a needless second booking, but while Limerick did break their scoring duck and added four points in the final quarter, it was nowhere near enough.

Wicklow kept their score ticking along, but with past history between the sides, there was still an air of tension in Aughrim even at six points up deep into injury time. The returning Malachy Stone, however, was at hand to provide the simple finish to fire home Wicklow’s fourth goal - sending them into the third round.

Scorers for Wicklow: Dean Healy 1-2 (1tp), Mark Jackson 0-4 (2ptf), Eoin Murtagh 1-0, Pádraig O’Toole 1-0, Malachy Stone 1-0, Eoin Darcy 0-3 (2fs), Jonathan Carlin 0-2, Oisín McGraynor 0-2, Kevin Quinn 0-2, Tom Moran 0-1, Matt Nolan 0-1

Scorers for Limerick: Danny Neville 1-3 (1tp), James Naughton 1-2 (1-0p, 1f), Cillian Fahy 0-3 (1tp), Tony McCarthy 0-2, Barry Coleman 0-2 (1tp), Eliah O’Riordan 0-1, Peter Nash 0-1 (1f).

Wicklow: Mark Jackson, Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone, Darragh Fee, Eoin Murtagh, Jonathan Carlin, Dean Healy, Jack Hardy, Jack Kirwan, Pádraig O’Toole, Christopher O’Brien, Oisín McGraynor., Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy

Subs: Kevin Quinn for Mark Kenny (53), Gavin Fogarty for Chris O’Brien (56), Liam O’Neill for Jack Kirwan (65), Conall Ó Gallchobhair for Eoin Murtagh (70+1).

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

Subs: Shane Cross for Rory O’Brien (45), Tadhg Ó Siochrú for Robbie Childs (50), Darren O’Doherty for Seán Kilbridge (57), Killian Ryan for Mark McCarthy (65).

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).