Limerick 2-18
Wicklow 1-17
By Tom Clancy at Croke Park
A run of 1-9 to just a point in the final twenty minutes of action at Croke Park has given Limerick a first All Ireland football Championship final appearance since 1896, as they defeated Wicklow to head to the Tailteann Cup final.
July 12th will see Limerick back at Croke Park, and on a weekend when the camogie, hurling and ladies football sides exited their championships, the footballers continued to fly the flag for the green and white.
Trailing by seven at the end of the third quarter, Limerick somehow fought back as their subs gave a huge injection. Bob Childs goal started the fightback. That, and a penalty saved by Josh Ryan from Oisin McGraynor gave Limerick a real energy that appeared missing for much of the contest.
Jimmy Lee’s men will be counting the cost, however, with injuries to James Naughton and Emmet Rigter, while Iain Corbett was withdrawn due to illness in the second half. They have time to reset – but this was a stunning comeback that will not be forgotten.
Mark Kenny opened the scoring for Wicklow – before captain Cillian Fahy settled Limerick heading into the seventh minute.
There was a lead score from Tony McCarthy, soon after, with the Kildimo native returning to the side after departing the contest early last week due to a back complaint.
Wicklow replied, through Christopher O’Brien, before James Naughton scored – at a cost. He picked up a knock and this certainly curtailed his involvement.
Points from Eoin Darcy and Joe Prendergast put the Leinster outfit ahead again, before a green flag for the Treaty.
Danny Neville’s superb solo run, which started from outside the 45, saw him burn off the Wicklow cover, before sending a controlled effort beyond Mark Jason, to put Limerick 1-3 to 0-4 ahead after sixteen minutes.
A second from Tony McCarthy cancelled out Jackson’s free, before Dan Healy kicked the games first two-pointer, a fine effort from outside the 45. Wicklow were dominating possession.
Oisin McConville’s side were reduced to 14, when a black card was shown to Pádraig O’Toole, who pulled down Paul Maher. However, this didn’t curtail them and an error on a kickout led to a free which Jackson, their keeper, slotted.
Nash, with a routine tap over free, and then one from play closed the half- with sub Kevin Quinn scoring in between. Half-time in headquarters saw the Shannonsiders leading 0-9 to 1-7 – though it felt that the Garden County were playing much the better of the football.
Matters got worse for Limerick when the men in blue got their goal, through corner back Malachy Stone who finished from close range. That, and a two-pointer from the impressive Dean Healy helped them pull clear.
Scores also from Eoin Darcy and McGraynor gave them a winning position.
Then, Childs chased in a poor Mark McCarthy shot, and robbed Jackson, before finishing easily for a goal. Josh Ryan arrowed over a free from outside the arc and it was a two point game.
Danny Neville was denied a lead goal with a point the result of a decent save from Jackson – the fresh legs releasing the Ballysteen native. The sides were level when the returning Barry Coleman curled over on 60 minutes.
The next play saw Tony McCarthy concede a penalty, but Ryan pushed it off the post, and caught the rebound. Huge, huge moment,.
Peter Nash curled over a routine free, and then Darragh Murray put daylight of three points between the teams.
Time for Rathkeale’s Coleman to add the insurance point before Ryan arrowed over from the sideline for a stunning two. Limerick winners, after a most dramatic contest at GAA HQ.
13,960 were in attendance for this double header, with Fermanagh/Kildare to provide the opposition in the final.
Scorers for Limerick: Danny Neville 1-2; Josh Ryan 0-4 (2tpf); Bob Childs 1-0; Peter Nash 0-3 (0-2 frees); James Naughton, Tony McCarthy, Barry Coleman 0-2 each; Cillian Fahy, Emmet Rigter, Darragh Murray 0-1 each
Scorers for Wicklow: Dean Healy 0-5 (2tp); Malachy Stone 1-0; Mark Jackson (2 frees), Kevin Quinn, Joe Prendergast, Eoin Darcy 0-2 each; Mark Kenny, Christopher O’Brien, Oisin McGraynor, Jack Kirwan 0-1 each
Limerick: Josh Ryan (Oola), Jason Hassett (Mungret St Pauls), Darren O’Doherty (Newcastle West), Mark McCarthy (Fr Caseys), Paul Maher (Adare), Iain Corbett (Newcastle West), Tony McCarthy (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Tommie Childs (Galtee Gaels), Darragh O’Hagan (Mungret St Pauls), James Naughton (St Senans), Emmet Rigter (Newcastle West), Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Danny Neville (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Killian Ryan (Mungret St Pauls)
Subs: Bob Childs for Naughton (inj – 39); Tadhg Ó Siochrú for Corbett (45); Barry Coleman for Rigter (inj – 48); Darragh Murray for O’Hagan (52); Rory O’Brien for Maher (61).
Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy (C), Pádraig O’Toole; Christopher O’Brien, Eoin Darcy, Cathal Baker; Oisín McGraynor, Craig Maguire, Mark Kenny.
Subs: Kevin Quinn for Maguire (27); John Paul Nolan for Baker (44); Andy Maher for Prendergast (61); Jack Kirwan for Kenny (64); Conor Fee for McGraynor (65).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork)
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