Limerick minors book All-Ireland semi-final place

THE LIMERICK minor hurlers are Croke Park bound after they reached the Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC semi-final with a 0-17 to 0-9 quarter-final victory over Wexford at Semple Stadium on Sunday. 

There can be little doubt that the Treaty deserved their win after showing great character to bounce back from a humbling 17-point defeat to Tipperary in the Munster final a fortnight ago. If there was any mental demons as a result of that defeat, they were not on show in Thurles. 

Pat Donnelly’s men took an 0-8 to 0-5 lead in the dressing room at the interval as they were much the better side in the opening 30 minutes 

Limerick were clinical in the first half, only hitting one wide. 

Points from wing forwards, David Woulfe and Michael O’Grady helped Limerick keep their noses in front. 

A fifth Brian Ryan point pushed Limerick four clear with time running out. 

Limerick pushed on for an impressive victory, hitting four points in added time. That said, vast improvements are needed as the side prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park against Dublin. 

SCORERS: Limerick: Brian Ryan 0-9 (0-6 frees), Conor Boylan 0-3; Josh Adams(free), Kyle Hayes, David Woulfe, Michael O’Grady, Cal McCarthy 0-1 each 

Wexford: Damien Reck 0-3 (0-2 frees 0-1’65); Liam Stafford, Theo Dolye 0-2 each, Andy Walsh,Conall Flood (free)  0-1 each. 

LIMERICK: Mark O’Kelly; Brian Nash, Conor Nicholas, Ronan Connelly; Josh Adams, Ciaran O’Connor, Finn Hourigan; Jerome Boylan, Darragh Carroll; Michael O’Grady, Kyle Hayes, David Woulfe; Conor Boylan, Anthony Barrett, Brian Ryan. Subs: Cal McCarthy for Darragh Carroll (30); Paul O’Riordan for Anthony Barrett (46); John Flynn for Cal McCarthy (48); Cian Magner Flynn for David Woulfe (53); Conor O’Grady for Michael O’Grady (57) 

WEXFORD: James Henerby; Conor Scallan, Darren Byrne, Eoin Molloy; Jack Cullen, Conor Firman, Conall Flood; Garry Molloy, Andy Walsh; Liam Stafford, Damien Reck, Barry O’Connor; Conor Hearne, Mark O’Neill, Theo Doyle.  Subs: Quinn Sanders for Jack Cullen (41); Murtha Doyle for Theo Doyle (44); Sam Wall for Conor Hearne (50); Eoin Kelly for Mark O’Neill (56) 

REFEREE: David Hughes (Carlow)