Limerick won't mind they retained their All-Ireland under-21 hurling title by only a point. But it surely remains a mystery to all neutral observers in the crowd of 31,413 in sunny Thurles that this final ended up with only a single point between the teams. For long stretches the champions dominated all around the field and their forwards frequently finished in style.
With the match theirs on an eight-point margin going into the final quarter-final, Limerick seized up and in the face of Wexford's late, frenzied attack were outscored 1-5 to 0-1 in the closing 15 minutes.
The catalyst was Paul Carley who was introduced as a substitute in the 50th minute in order to take a 20-metre free. He's had a difficult season and hasn't enjoyed the best of form. The free was deflected over the bar for a point but Carley went on to add 1-1 as Wexford hunted down the lead.
In the end the comeback came up short when Barry Lambert, having already scored a couple of long-range frees, was wide with an equalising chance from a 70-metre free.
Ultimately it would have been unfair had Limerick not won as they had played the better hurling. But this was another gutsy performance from Wexford. Technically they were limited but managed to eke out a comeback from a few, desperate raids.
The teams started as selected with Wexford's captain Nicky Lambert taking his place at centrefield despite a broken thumb. He battled manfully and in the second half caused a few tremors after being moved to the full-forward line where his physique created space and chances.
Limerick centre back Brian Geary, in trouble with a hamstring strain during last week, played without apparent discomfort.
Steadily the champions assembled a good lead, converting a stream of points with Conor Fitzgerald shooting unerringly from the right corner. In general he gave Robbie Kirwan such a nightmare that the corner back was switched to the right wing before being taken off, strangely in injury-time at the end of the first half.
Fitzgerald's radar went on the blink thereafter but the 11-minute, first-half salvo had been a significant cameo. His forward colleagues with the exception of Pat Tobin were on the mark from play. Mark Keane was quiet in open play but his dead-ball striking was efficient and accurate.
Wexford struggled to make an impact. Attempts to move the ball quickly was dogged by slow touch and poor direction. Their tactical appreciation was lack-lustre with bunching commonplace - in stark contrast to Limerick's eager support play.
In the 16th minute, Michael Jacob tipped a long-range Darren Stamp free to the net to get Wexford into the match and a minute later Rory Jacob had pointed a free to level the match.
Limerick responded by tipping the pedal again and outscoring Wexford by six points to one - the pick of them a dextrous bout of stickwork finished by a fine long-range point from Stephen Lucey.
Further well-taken points and a bravura display by young Maurice O'Brien - a minor and colleges player this year who at one stage calmly tapped a ball over his man before clearing - illuminated the second half. Wexford's comeback surprised nearly everyone and even though on this occasion, it didn't work, it was a tribute to the spirit of their season.
Two players, Darren Stamp and Damien Reale, were lucky not get a red card each in separate incidents and needless to say, the contrast with recent events in the Tipperary-Wexford senior semi-final was noted.
LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, B Carroll, E Mulcahy; M O'Riordan, B Geary, M O'Brien; P Lawlor, S Lucey (0-1); E Foley (0-2), K Tobin (0-2), P Tobin; C Fitzgerald (0-3), N Moran (0-2), M Keane (0-7, five frees, one 65). Subs: A O'Shaughnessy for P Tobin (50 mins).
WEXFORD: M White; N Maguire, D O'Connor, R Kirwan; R Mallon, B McGee, T Kelly; N Lambert, D Stamp; R Barry, G Coleman (0-2), R Jacob (0-3, one free); B Lambert (0-2, two frees), M Jacob (1-1), D Lyng. Subs: P Donoghue for Kirwan (31 mins), P Carley (1-2, one free) for N Lambert (50 mins), N Lambert for Barry (53 mins).
Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).
