Fast start and flowing Waters help Limerick past Wexford

All-Ireland MHC preliminary quarter-final: Limerick 1-20 Wexford 0-15
Shane Waters and Conor Hough fired Limerick to the All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-finals with victory over Wexford at Semple Stadium.
The Treaty enjoyed a 0-10 to 0-2 head start, and though Wexford briefly made it a one-score game, those eight points would prove their eventual winning margin.
Waters accounted for 0-14 (0-5 from play), while Hough's 51st-minute goal made victory certain as part of a 1-2 tally.
The Model County were boosted before throw-in with the addition of Seán O'Brien to their starting team. Top scorer at this grade last year, the joint-captain missed their Leinster semi-final defeat to Galway due to a thumb injury, but played through the pain here.
O'Brien won the opening free for Darragh Ryan, but Limerick's puck-out domination would see them string together 10 of the next 11 points.
Shane Carroll and Alex Kearns got them up and running before Waters took over. The Na Piarsaigh sharp-shooter scored their next seven points, including four from play, in the space of eight minutes. Hough made it 0-10 to 0-2.
Wexford switched Ryan deeper to shield their defence while O'Brien was brought out to the wing. The moves worked as Tomás Fenlon got their first point from play, quickly followed by Eoghan Whelan and O'Brien scores.
Before long, a super second from wing-back Fenlon and Énán Quinlan's opener had it back to a one-score game.
But Waters ended with a brace, one each from play and a free, for a 0-14 to 0-9 half-time lead.
There were just four scores from play in a scrappy second half. Ryan and Waters exchanged two points each before the first clear-cut goal chance. Hough broke the sliotar for Cathal Dennehy, but Martin Dempsey read his intentions for a terrific diving save.
Still, Waters' third 65 and Dennehy's opener made it a four-point streak and a lead of eight.
The goal originated from captain David O'Keeffe winning the puck-out break. Rory Hanly sped forward to offload for Hough, whose initial shot was stopped by Brian Ivers' brave block. The Monagea attacker met the rebound with a sweet groundstroke to rattle the net.
That 1-19 to 0-12 lead wouldn't be threatened as the Treaty held out against late Wexford pressure.
Marcus Murphy earned his clean sheet by taking O'Brien's one-handed swipe off the line before saving Joey Tobin's kicked effort. For a finish, Jackie Dwane blocked O'Brien's close-range free on the line, and Tobin whipped wide.
Scorers for Limerick: S Waters (0-14, 6 frees, 3 65s); C Hough (1-2); S Carroll, A Kearns, C Dennehy, K Begley (0-1 each).
Scorers for Wexford: D Ryan (0-7, 5 frees, 1 65); S O'Brien (0-4, 3 frees); T Fenlon (0-2); É Quinlan, E Whelan (0-1 each).
LIMERICK: M Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); S Carroll (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), E Ryan (South Liberties), J Dwane (Kilmallock); E Hennessy (Patrickswell), M Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), D Crowe (Doon); P Murphy (Castletown-Ballyagran), D O'Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh, capt); S Waters (Na Piarsaigh), R Hanly (Ballybricken-Bohermore), A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh); C Hough (Monagea), C Dennehy (Glenroe), R Horgan (Murroe-Boher).
Subs: E O'Sullivan (Adare) for Horgan (42), K Begley (Mungret St Paul's) for Kearns (52), K McCarthy (Glenroe) for Crowe (54), R Foley (Patrickswell) for P Murphy (59).
WEXFORD: M Dempsey (Oulart-The Ballagh); P O'Neill (Askamore), T Kirwan (Glynn-Barntown), B Ivers (Marshalstown-Castledockrell); T Fenlon (Rapparees), C Gethings (Ballynestragh Gaels), C Rochford (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown); É Quinlan (Naomh Éanna), E Whelan (Monageer-Boolavogue); E Kinsella (Liam Mellows), D Ryan (Glynn-Barntown, j-capt), J Kennedy (Naomh Éanna); J Tobin (Rathnure St Anne's), J Downey (Oylegate-Glenbrien), S O'Brien (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, j-capt).
Subs: R Wickham (Oulart-The Ballagh) for Kennedy (39), J Cullen (Fethard St Mogue's) for Kinsella (42), K Murphy (Ferns St Aidan's) for Rochford (49), W Kelly (St Fintan's) for Whelan (52), J Sheridan (Askamore) for Downey (56).
Referee: C O'Donovan (Tipperary).

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