Forde's late rally fails to halt Limerick

Limerick 1-10 Wexford 1-9: While leading by a 10-point margin with the same number of minutes left to play, an assured and confident Limerick basked in the knowledge that, with the league still in its infancy, they were close to three wins and the probability of top-flight football next year.

It almost went horribly wrong for them, however, as Wexford, taking inspiration from goalscorer Matty Forde, then cut the deficit to just four points.

It was a nerve-racking finale to what had been a one-sided match for home manager Liam Kearns who will surely have some harsh words for his defenders when they convene for training.

Using the wide open spaces of the Gaelic Grounds to expose their opponents' lack of pace, Limerick were quickly into their stride with a point from the industrious Stephen Kelly.

Their opening goal, scored seconds later, was a brilliant effort. Stephen Lucey won possession around the middle of the field. He quickly released the unmarked Kelly. With three defenders crowding around him, Kelly darted his way out of trouble. He fisted the ball across the goalmouth and the inrushing Eoin Keating side-footed past Wexford goalkeeper John Cooper.

Forde broke the Limerick sequence, but it wasn't long before Keating, Muiris Gavin (two) and Murphy had helped the home team build up a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage.

Points from Gary O'Grady and Forde gave the visitors a glimmer of hope as the game neared half-time.

Midfielders John Quane and Timmy Carroll ensured that the one-way traffic continued in the second half as they gave a generous supply of ball to their forwards.

Kelly and Gavin took full advantage of this and when Maurice Horan squeezed the ball past Cooper on 39 minutes, it was 2-8 to 0-4 and the game looked all over.

Limerick then went off the boil but were looking so cosy that the management sent on four substitutes.

One of them, Mark Keane, fired between the uprights, cancelling out O'Grady's score at the other end.

Wexford then lifted themselves and put in an extra effort. Substitute Darran Foran cut arrears, but Gavin ensured the gap remained at 10 points with a point for Limerick.

That margin might have been bigger but for two brilliant saves made by Cooper on efforts at his goal from Kelly and Horan.

Forde seemed intent on doing something about the deficit and when he drilled the ball past Séamus O'Donnell in the 63rd minute Wexford were a transformed team.

Coming at Limerick from all angles they looked to Forde to drive them further and he rattled over a hat-trick of points to make for a grandstand finish.

Fortunately for the Limerick men, Wexford's time of dominance was too short to overturn the score .

LIMERICK: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, J McCarthy, T Stack; P Browne, S Lucey, D Reidy; J Quane, T Carroll; S Kelly (0-2), M Gavin (0-5), C Mullane, M Horan (1-0), J Murphy (0-1), E Keating (1-1). Subs: M O'Brien for Mullane, M Keane (0-1) for Horan, C Hickey for Keating, J Galvin for Quane.

WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; G Sunderland, D Breen, L O'Brien; D Murphy, D Fogarty; G O'Grady (0-2), J Hudson (0-1), A Morrissey; S Doran, P Colfer, M Forde (1-5). Subs: D Foran (0-1) for Fogarty, T Wall for Murphy, S Howard for O'Brien.

Referee: M Daly (Mayo).