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 that resulted in 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 1-09 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 0-02 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 goal 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 level, and parity endured on 0-09 apiece after 47 minutes when David Reidy had a pointed free negated by Oisín Foley.
Robbie Hanley and Gearóid Hegarty restored a two-point gap before Wexford pounced for the decisive blow, as a long range free from Jack O’Connor found Mikie Dwyer, who rammed to the town-end net on 59 minutes for a 1-09 to 0-11 breakthrough.
Conor McDonald extended the lead, and despite Wexford adding three wides, wing-back Connal Flood made it 1-11 to 0-11 moments before the Limerick goal had a narrow escape.
Conor McDonald fielded a delivery from O’Connor, and despite a combined challenge he attempted to flick home only for Dan Morrissey to clear.
Limerick tried everything to salvage the tie – including going low with a couple of late frees – before Wexford held out for this first victory over the Shannonsiders since the opening round of the 2017 league.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Matthew O’Hanlon; Damien Reck, Pádraig Foley, Connal Flood (0-02); Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-01), Cathal Dunbar; Liam Óg McGovern, Jack O’Connor (0-05, 4 frees), Charlie McGuckin; Oisín Foley (0-02), Conor McDonald (0-01), Mikie Dwyer (1-00).
Subs: David Dunne for Dunbar (60), Oisín Pepper for McGuckin (64), Paul Morris for O’Connor (70).
Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Barry Nash, Dan Morrissey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-03, 1 ’65, 2 frees), Declan Hannon (0-01), Colin Coughlan; Robbie Hanley (0-01), William O’Donoghue; Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey, Gearóid Hegarty (0-3); Aaron Gillane (0-02 frees), Pat Ryan, David Reidy (0-01 free).
Subs: Seamus Flanagan for Gillane (HT), Oisín O’Reilly for Ryan (46), Conor Boylan for O’Neill (60), Darren O’Connell for Reidy (67), Brian O’Grady for Hanley (70).
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
