Wexford cause shock against wasteful Limerick

Wexford banished the Walsh Cup final blues as a second-half Mikie Dwyer goal claimed the scalp of All-Ireland champions Limerick in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A opener at blustery Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Despite some particularly poor first-half shooting – ten wides – Limerick wrestled a 0-07 to 0-06 interval advantage.

But Wexford refused to yield and never looked back after Dwyer collected a free from Jack O'Connor to stitch a 59th minute goal and carve open a 1-9 to 0-11 lead.

New Wexford boss Darragh Egan demonstrated faith in his charges as his management retained no fewer than 11 of the side which had endured a 16-point drubbing against Dublin a week earlier in the Cup decider.

Limerick fielded nine of last August’s All-Ireland final winners, but encountered a tenacious challenge before succumbing to their first competitive defeat in nine outings.

Limerick opened with two wides before a couple of Jack O’Connor frees sent invigorated Wexford 0-2 to no-score ahead inside seven minutes.

Declan Hannon and Aaron Gillane (free) bridged the gap after twelve minutes. But league debutante Oisín Foley and Diarmuid O’Keeffe reasserted Wexford by 0-04 to 0-02 as the visitors’ wides grew to five.

Wexford went close with a goaling chance after Damien Reck burst through from defence to locate Conor McDonald on the left, from where McDonald’s strike was kept out by Nicky Quaid.

Regardless, Wexford maintained an edge after 27 minutes (0-06 to 0-04) before Limerick, despite ongoing finishing issues, notched the last three scores of the half – a Gearóid Hegarty double and the lead score from Byrnes.

But Wexford refused to yield as, despite Limerick resuming with a Diarmaid Byrnes’ free, Jack O’Connor hauled the home-side