Limerick advance to Tailteann Cup semi-final following thrilling win over Wexford

LIMERICK are through to the semi-finals of the 2025 Tailteann Cup after they defeated Wexford in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday evening.

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Jimmy Lee's side ran out  4-21 to 2-19 winners which puts them in the final four for the first time since the Tailteann Cup began in 2022. 

Wexford raced into an early five-point lead aided by a strong breeze. Jack Higgins was in fine scoring form, notching the first score of the game, quickly followed by a two-point effort.

Seán Nolan, who was a constant threat throughout, and Páiric Hughes gave the 'Yellowbellies' a 0-05 to 0-00 lead after five minutes.

Limerick began to settle after Darragh O'Hagan got the Shannonsiders' off the mark on seven minutes with James Naughton instrumental in getting Limerick back on level terms.

The St Senan's native scored two and set up another as they continued to chip away at the Wexford lead. Paul Maher levelled proceedings on the quarter of an hour mark as the game began to explode into life. 

Cillian Fahy rattled the back of the net a minute later before Niall Hughes responded for the Leinster side with an excellent two-pointer.

No less than two minutes later, Limerick had their second goal thanks to some individual brilliance from Danny Neville. The full-forward drove at the Wexford defence before finding the back of the net with a cute finish. 

Wexford continued to take advantage of the strong breeze at their backs with Mark Rossiter notching another two-pointer for John Hegarty's side shortly after.

However Wexford struggled to deal with the Limerick forward movement and on the half hour mark Cillian Fahy grabbed his second goal of the game, smashing his effort in off the underside of the crossbar. 

Limerick looked to be cruising going in at half-time but 1-4 from Wexford corner-forward Seán Nolan in the space of five minutes ensured that the sides would be going in level at the interval, 3-08 to 1-14. 

James Naughton continued his excellent first-half form grabbing his side's first score of the second-half via a two-point effort. Wexford were temporarily reduced to 14 players when substitute Seán Ryan was adjudged to have interfered with play by referee Brendan Griffin. 

Limerick made use of the extra man with corner-back Mark McCarthys extended his side's lead to three however the goals continued to flow and this time it was Wexford who found the back of Josh Ryan's net thanks to a superb Mark Rossiter effort. 

Danny Neville responded with yet another Limerick goal a minute later, raising a fourth green flag for the division four league champions.

Both sides began to exchange points as the game descended into a lull, both teams feeling the effects of a frantic opening 50 minutes. Jimmy Lee and John Hegarty began to ring the changes on the hour mark as the game headed down the home stretch. 

The impressive James Naughton put on a top class display of shooting in the second-half to ensure that Limerick kept their Leinster opponents at arm's length, bringing his personal tally to 0-09. 

Goalkeeper Josh Ryan put the game to bed on the 70 minute mark. The Oola clubman marauded up the field to kick his side's second two-pointer of the game. The hooter sounded shortly after to ensure Limerick a safe passage into the semi-finals.

Scorers: Limerick: James Naughton 0-09 (3 frees)(1 2p), Cillian Fahy 2-0, Danny Neville 2-2, Paul Maher 0-02, Emmet Rigter 0-3, Josh Ryan 0-2 (1 2p), Mark McCarthy, Rob Childs, Darragh O'Hagan 0-01 each Wexford: Seán Nolan 1-7 (2 frees)(2 2p), Mark Rossiter 1-3 (1 2p), Niall Hughes 0-4 (2 2p) Jack Higgins 0-03 (1 2p), Páiric Hughes, Eoin Porter 0-01 each

Limerick: Josh Ryan (Oola), Jason Hassett, Darren O'Doherty, Mark McCarthy, Paul Maher, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy Tommie Childs, Darragh O'Hagan, James Naughton, Emmet Rigter, Cillian Fahy, Peter Nash, Danny Neville, Killian Ryan. Substitutes: Tadhg Ó Siochrú for Tony McCarthy (2 minutes), Rob Childs for Darragh O'Hagan (50 minutes), Darragh Murray for Tommy Childs (60 minutes) Rory O'Brien for Danny Neville (60 minutes), Conall Ó Duinn for Tadhg Ó Siochrú (66 minutes), Andrew Meade for Paul Maher (68 minutes), 

Wexford: Darragh Brooks, Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Dylan Furlong, Eoin Porter, Glen Malone, Páiric Hughes, Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes, Jack Higgins, Michael Kinsella, Mark Rossiter, Robbie Brooks, Ben Brosnan, Seán Nolan. Substitutes: Seán Ryan for Robbie Brooks (HT), Kevin O'Grady for Ben Brosnan (HT), Ruairí Martin for Michael Kinsella (60 minutes),Cathal Walsh for Dylan Furlong (60 minutes), Cathal Kehoe for Glen Malone (63 minutes),

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)