Limerick 0-11 Wexford 0-12
PJ Banville and Ciaran Lyng between them scored eight points to earn Wexford a dramatic win over Limerick who will regret having a dozen wides including two from late frees which would have earned them either a win or taken the thrilling tie to extra time.
The sides were level on 11 occasions, including at half time.
Limerick had the aid of the wind in the first half but it took 11 minutes before the home side had the opening point from Seamus O’Carroll. That was the only time the home side led but the scoring ability of Ciaran Lyng and PJ Banville ensure that Wexford were always that shade more likely to win.
Both sides missed great goal chances in the first half with Adrian Flynn having to settle for a point after a brilliant save by Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan as the Wexford man let fly only a few metres from goal.
Limerick captain Iain Corbett saw his penalty kick go over off the crossbar four minutes before the break at which they were tied at 0-7 each.
Limerick’s goal chance fell to Darragh Tracey whose effort went inches wide while Wexford goalkeeper Shane Roche brought off a spectacular save in the second half from Josh Ryan.
They were level again after 65 minutes and, when Banville pointed a free two minutes from the end of normal time, it proved sufficient to enable Wexford be the first to qualify for round two.
In a hectic finish Jamie Lee missed two difficult frees from either side and they also squandered a chance a few seconds from the end.
Limerick managed only four points in the second send half, two of them frees.
LIMERICK: D O'Sullivan; G Noonan, J McCarthy, S O'Dea; P White, I Corbett 0-2 (0-1pen), B Fanning; D Treacy 0-3, D Ward; P Nash, J Naughton, D Neville ; S O'Carroll 0-3 (1f 1 '45'), J Ryan 0-1, S Collins 0-1 (f).
Substitutes: S Mcsweeney 0-1 (f) for Ward (27), J Lee for McSweeney (50), P Scanlon for Collins (55), S Buckley for O’carroll (64), I Ryan for Naughton (68).
WEXFORD: S Roche; M Furlong 0-2, N Rossiter, J Rossiter; A Flynn 0-1, J Wadding, B Malone; D Waters, E Nolan; K O'Grady, C Lynch 0-4 (3f), B Brosnan, PJ Bonville 0-4 (2f).
Substitutes: J Tubritt 0-1 for O’Grady (46), P Curtis for Brosnan (55), J Finnan for Flynn (62).
Referee: P O'Sullivan, Kerry.
