Oisin McConville's Wicklow left stunned as Limerick snatch Tailteann Cup Final place with late comeback

Belfast Telegraph

23-06-2025

Oisin McConville's men were coasting into the decider when Oisín McGraynor put them 1-16 to 1-9 up on 50 minutes, but when goalscorer Rob Childs pickpocketed Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson two minutes later, a remarkable turnaround had been set in motion.
Wicklow's misfiring helped Limerick's cause in moving 0-3 to 0-2 up by the 10th minute. Wicklow grew into the half, and a fine tackle from Dean Healy on 12 minutes robbed the ball from Limerick to trigger Pádraig O'Toole's powerful run.
He teed up Eoin Darcy to fist over an equaliser. Two minutes later, Malachy Stone cut out a Limerick attack and, when the ball moved down the other end, Joe Prendergast was up to score his first point.
Disaster struck for Wicklow just two minutes later, however, as Stone appeared to lose his footing as he pursued Limerick's Danny Neville, who was left in the clear to apply the finish for a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.
Peter Nash's excellent point for Limerick on 35 minutes secured the halfway lead, but Wicklow went to the dressing room with plenty to be happy with.
A Dean Healy two-pointer on 28 minutes seemed to spur them after they had fallen three points behind, as well as going a man down through an O'Toole black card 10 minutes from the break.
Mark Jackson's second converted free and an inspirational point by the recently introduced Kevin Quinn brought their half-time tally to a respectable 0-9.
And they pushed on after the break, dominating the third quarter as they moved from a point down to seven ahead with only 20 minutes to play.
On 47 minutes, they looked to be well on their way to the Tailteann Cup Final when Stone was in position to knock a ball across the square from Eoin Darcy to the net, and a Dean Healy double and a McGraynor single.
Not so, as Childs untangled it in nicking the ball from Jackson as he moved out from goal after making a routine catch from a Limerick shot that dropped short.
Josh Ryan, superb from open play and placed balls in the second-half, increased the Limerick pressure with the first of two two-point frees on 54 minutes to cut the gap to two, but Wicklow had a glorious opportunity to right themselves four minutes later.
Ryan made a good stop, but referee David Murnane called for a Limerick push on the rebound.
McGraynor's penalty wasn't the worst ever taken but was brilliantly stopped by Ryan.
Limerick's bench contributed 1-3 of that 1-9 they scored without reply, but there was no doubting that Ryan was the star. His magnificent two-pointer from about 45 metres out, just in from the Hogan Stand sideline, underlined his already sterling contribution.
Wicklow would, eventually, end the onslaught when Jack Kirwan landed a point — but as it came after the hooter, it ended the game as well.
Limerick had completed a comeback that may not be matched in Croke Park this summer, and a dejected Wicklow outfit are left to wonder what the hell happened.
Scorers, Limerick: D Neville 1-2; J Ryan 0-4 (2 tpf); P Nash 0-3 (2f); R Childs 1-0; T McCarthy, J Naughton, B Coleman 0-2 each; D Murray, C Fahy, E Rigter 0-1 each. Wicklow: D Healy 0-5 (2tp); M Stone 1-0; E Darcy, M Jackson (2f), K Quinn, J Prendergast 0-2 each; C O'Brien, M Kenny, O McGraynor, J Kirwan 0-1 each.