A LATE RORY Jacob goal was not enough to prolong Wexford’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship campaign on Saturday evening, the Leinster county exiting the competition at the hands of a hard-working and organised Limerick side.

The final scoreline of 1-21 to 2-13 might have weighed even heavier in favour of the team in green as they look in control almost throughout and put in a relentless second half display to book their place in Sunday’s qualifiers draw.

After a nervy opening, Donal O’Grady split the posts to put Limerick in front before Garrett Sinnott and Eoin Quigley replied with scores of their own to kick start the visiting side’s account. The teams then traded points until scores from Declan Hannon (2), Kevin Downes and O’Grady moved the Treatymen four ahead, 0-8 to 0-4.

Quigley grabbed the game’s first goal shortly before the half-hour mark to put the minimum between the sides but Limerick kept up their high work rate and soon had extended their advantage once again with a brace of points from Niall Moran. Two more points from Wexford left the interval deficit at two scores.

The action continued immediately after the resumption with Graeme Mulcahy firing to the back of the net for Limerick with less than a minute on the clock for the second half. PJ Nolan and Rory Jacob kept their team in touch but their opponents continue to pick off classy efforts, particularly Mulcahy and Hannon.

Limerick were eight points ahead when Wexford’s Paul Roche was given his marching orders with 11 minutes remaining, following an off-the-ball incident with Mulcahy. Jacob did put a respectable look on the scoreline when he finished a strong run with a goal, but there was never any real doubt about which team could come through from the contest.