Slick Limerick book place in All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-final with victory over Wexford

RESILIENT Limerick powered their way into the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland minor hurling championship after recording an impressive 1-20 to 0-15 victory over Wexford in their preliminary quarter-final played at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday afternoon.

Na Piarsaigh forward Shane Waters accounted for an impressive 0-14, including five points from play, as the Donal O'Grady-managed Limerick side booked their place at the last six stage of the All-Ireland championship.

Limerick join Munster rivals Clare, winners over Dublin in their preliminary quarter-final earlier in the day at Thurles, as well as Munster finalists Waterford and beaten Connacht finalists Galway in the quarter-final draw which is set to take place at the start of next week.

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Limerick, who had won just one of their four games in the round robin phase of the Munster championship, against Tipperary also in Thurles, deservedly led 0-14 to 0-9 at half-time in Saturday's entertaining clash.

The Shannonsiders then sealed the victory 10 minutes from full-time when Monagea's Conor Hough struck for the game's only goal, from a sweetly struck ground shot, rifled to the Wexford net.

There was much to admire in Limerick's display, the side displayed an admirable workrate and composure all through. Their use of possession was impressive as was their first touch and ability to convert possession into scores.

Limerick settled to their task with relish from the first whistle. 

This was Limerick's first competitive outing for four weeks, following their final round defeat to Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds last month.

Thankfully the heavy drizzle which fell during the day's opening game between Clare and Dublin at the same venue had cleared in time for throw-in for this fixture.

It was Wexford who opened the scoring when their captain Darragh Ryan landed a second minute free.

However, Limerick dominated the game during the opening 10 minutes, firing over six points without reply.

Shane Carroll kick-started the scoring blitz when landing a smashing third minute point. 

Alex Kearns then followed suit to help Limerick into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead on three minutes.

The next period belonged to Na Piarsaigh marksman Shane Waters. Operating at wing forward on this occasion, Waters hit the next four points in succession, including two from play and one each from a '65 and free.

Wexford captain Darrah Ryan broke the sequence with a further point from a free, before Waters fired over three more scores, including two beautifully-judged efforts from play. Limerick were suddenly seven points to the good, 0-9 to 0-2.

It was the turn of Monagea's silky corner forward Conor Hough to fire over the next two Limerick scores from play. 

To their credit, Wexford remained in the contest with a run of three points on the trot from Tomas Fenlon, Eoghan Whelan and Sean O'Brien as Limerick led 0-11 to 0-6 after 19 minutes.

While a Waters free pushed the gap out to six points, Wexford hit back with three scores on the bounce from a Ryan, free, Fenlon, his second of the game, and midfielder Enan Quinlan, to leave three points between the sides, 0-12 to 0-9, after 25 minutes of play.

However, Limerick, who were hurling with an impressive sense of purpose and composure, pushed further clear before the break, thanks to two points from Waters, a score from play which was created by Hough, as well as a pointed free from the Na Piarsaigh clubman. Those scores brought his tally for the game to 0-10 as Limerick retired to the dressing room with a useful five point advantage, 0-14 to 0-9. 

The sides shared the opening four points of the second half as Waters continued to add to his tally. Limerick then came within a whisker of notching the game's opening goal when Cathal Dennehy surged through the middle. However, the Glenroe teenager's well-struck effort was superbly saved by Wexford goalkeeper, Martin Dempsey at the expense of a '65.

Waters again showed his prowess from the placed ball to land the '65 to make it 0-17 to 0-11 after 41 minutes.

Limerick added to their advantage when substitute Eamon O'Sullivan found Dennehy who pointed superbly under pressure. Another Waters pointed free had the Shannonsiders 0-19 to 0-11 in front mid-way through the second half.

Limerick took a giant step towards the quarter-finals in the 50th minute. Conor Hough was initially denied a goal when his well-struck effort was blocked by Brian Ivers. However, an alert Hough pounced on the rebound and fired a terrific effort to the back of the net for 1-19 to 0-13.

Limerick were assured of their place in the quarter-finals after an impressive display.

SCORERS: Limerick: Shane Waters 0-14 (0-6 frees, 0-3 '65s), Conor Hough 1-2, Shane Carroll, Alex Kearns, Cathal Dennehy, Killian Begley 0-1 each. Wexford: Darragh Ryan 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 '65), Sean O'Brien 0-4 (0-3 frees), Tomas Fenlon 0-2, Enan Quinlan, Eoghan Whelan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Marcus Murphy (Limerick); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), Evan Ryan (South Liberties), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock); Shane Carroll (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Diarmuid Crowe (Doon); Paul Murphy (Castletown-Ballyagran), David O'Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) (Capt); Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh), Rory Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh); Conor Hough (Monagea), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Rian Horgan (Murroe-Boher). SUBS: Eamon O'Sullivan (Adare) for Horgan (41 mins), Killian Begley (Mungret-St Pauls) for Kearns (52 mins), Kyle McCarthy (Glenroe) for Crowe (53 mins), Ryan Foley (Patrickswell) for Murphy (58 mins).  

WEXFORD: Martin Dempsey; Tomas Kirwan, Ciaran Gethings, Paddy O'Neill, Tomas Fenlon, Brian Ivers, Conor Rochford; Enan Quinlan, Eoghan Whelan, Eoin Kinsella, Darragh Ryan, Jamie Kennedy; Joey Tobin, Jamie Downey, Sean O'Brien. SUBS: Rhys Wickham for Kennedy (38 mins), Jack Cullen for Kinsella (40 mins), Kenny Murphy for Rochford (48 mins), Wally Kelly for Whelan (52 mins), Jack Sheridan for Downey (56 mins).

REFEREE: Ciaran O'Donovan (Tipperary)