Tailteann Cup: Limerick defeat Wexford:
Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final
Limerick 4-21 (4-2-17) Wexford 2-19 (2-6-7)
By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds
An altogether more cohesive Limerick display saw them power their way into a first Tailteann Cup last four, and achieve the rare feat of winning four championship games in a row.
Jimmy Lee’s men are winning matches now and despite being unfancied in many quarters at the outset, they are now a danger to anybody in the final four of this competition.
A brace of goals from Danny Neville and Cillian Fahy ensured safe passage, despite six two-pointers from Wexford. The winners blitzed their way through the Slaneysiders, and banished the memory of losses to both Laois and Sligo at this stage in the last two seasons.
Despite a hesitant opening, the home side showed perhaps why they have had a very successful 2025 to date. Tireless running, slick passing and an ability to create space for the shooter well all abundantly clear for Limerick during a dominant spell, where they picked off 1-6 without reply, to lead by four.
Darragh O’Hagan for the ball rolling, before James Naughton, Danny Neville and Naughton (free) got real momentum. Their first goal on 18 minutes when Neville centred for Fahy, who palmed to the net.
They looked well in control but Niall Hughes used the considerable breeze to cut the gap with a two-pointer, before Mark Rossiter joined him but in between Danny Neville rattled the net through a sea of bodies.
Scores were easy to come by and the third goal, a rocket from Fahy came after great penetration from Peter Nash. He fed Rigter and while the opening vanished for him, he found the surging Fahy who buried the ball home via the crossbar.
However, in a most dramatic half, it was level by half-time. It read 3-8 to 1-14 with a well worked goal from Nolan, which involved Jack Higgins and Ben Brosnan on 33 minutes. This was quickly replied to by Emmet Rigter, his second, before another from outside the arc from Nolan ensured the sides were level for a second time and as they headed for the dressing room.
Naughton grabbed a two-pointer free and quickly added one from inside the arc before Wexford, again through Nolan got their opening score of the second half. This was quickly cancelled out by the marauding Mark McCarthy.
Wexford were playing with 14 men, following a black card shown to sub Seán Ryan, but they quickly found a goal through Mark Rossiter. As with many of their bright moments in the first half, Wexford were quick to concede, and this time a second goal from Neville who rounded Darragh Brooks, all but killed off the Wexford challenge.
Late scores from Naughton, to bring his total to nine, and a two-pointer from play from keeper Josh Ryan gave the Treaty a comfortable eight-point margin of victory at the hooter.
A return to Croke Park, a first in a Championship game since 2011 awaits.
Scorers for Limerick: James Naughton 0-9 (1tp free, 0-3 frees); Danny Neville 2-2; Cillian Fahy 2-0; Emmet Rigter 0-3; Paul Maher, Josh Ryan (1tp) 0-2 each; Darragh O’Hagan, Mark McCarthy, Rob Childs 0-1 each.Scorers for Wexford: Seán Nolan 1-7 (0-2 frees, 2tp); Mark Rossiter 1-3 (1tp); Niall Hughes 0-4 (2tp); Jack Higgins 0-3 (1tp); Páiric Hughes, Eoin Porter 0-1 each.Limerick: Josh Ryan; Jason Hassett, Darren O’Doherty, Mark McCarthy; Paul Maher, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Tommie Childs, Darragh O’Hagan; Jason Naughton, Emmett Rigter, Cillian Fahy (Capt); Peter Nash, Danny Neville, Killian Ryan.
Subs: Tadhg Ó Siochrú for T McCarthy (inj – 2 mins); Rob Childs for O’Hagan (50); Darragh Murray for T Childs (60); Rory O’Brien for Neville (60); Cathal Kehoe for Malone (64); Conall Ó Duinn for Ó Siochrú (66); Andrew Meade for Maher (68).
Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Dylan Furlong; Eoin Porter, Glen Malone, Páiric Hughes; Liam Coleman (Capt), Niall Hughes; Jack Higgins, Michael Kinsella, Mark Rossiter; Robbie Brooks, Ben Brosnan, Seán Nolan.Subs: Sean Ryan for Books (half-time); Kevin O’Grady for Borsnan (half-time); Cathal Walsh for Furlong (60); Ruairí Martin for Kinsella (60).Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).