THE LIMERICK senior footballers remain unbeaten after two games in the National Football league. Limerick recorded a valuable single point victory against Offaly in Tullamore last Sunday. Limerick played against the wind in the first half and trailed 1-06 to 0-07 at half time.
Four points from Brian Scanlon (0-02), John Riordan and Mark O’Riordan allowed Limerick set a platform to secure the win in the second half.
Limerick, with Ger Collins and Ian Ryan returning from injury, found it hard to breakdown a hard working and tough tackling Offaly backline managed to close the gap with points from Ian Ryan and Eoghan O’Connor. O’Connor’s white flag in the 69th minute left the final score at Offaly 1-8 Limerick 0-12.
Limerick now have a three week break to the game against Waterford in Dungarven on Saturday March 2 at 7pm. Waterford also won their first two games.
The Limerick team and scorers versus Offaly;
Brian Scanlan, (0-02), Cian Coady, Johnny McCarthy, Mark O’Riordan (0-1), Stephen Lavin (0-01), Paudie Browne, Pa Ranahan, Thomas Lee, Bobby O’Brien, James O’Meara, John Riordan (0-01), Derry O’Connor, Eoghan O’Connor, (0-02), Ger Collins and Ian Ryan (captain, 0-05).
Meanwhile, the Limerick senior hurlers took on Cork in a senior hurling in a challenge in St Finbarr’s G.A.A. club grounds last Saturday February 9.
Although eventually losing 2-15 to 1-22, Limerick will be delighted with the run out which was highly competitive.
Limerick led at half time by 2-07 to 1-09 with Declan Hannon (1-06)(0-5f), Paul Browne (1-00) and David Breen (0-01) hitting the first half scores. In the second half Limerick kept the scoreboard ticking over with scores from Paudie O’Brien (0-01), Conor Allis (0-03), Adrian Breen (0-02) and Declan Hannon (0-02f).
Limerick kick off their national league campaign on Sunday February 24 against Antrim at the Gaelic Grounds.
The Limerick team and scorers versus Cork;
Nickie Quaid, Stephen Walsh, Richie McCarthy, Tom Condon, Wayne McNamara, Donal O’Grady (captain), Gavin O’Mahony, James Ryan, Cathal King, Declan Hannon (1-08)(7f), Seamus Hickey, David Breen(0-01),Graeme Mulcahy, Niall Moran (Ahane)(0-1) and Paul Browne (Bruff)(1-00). Subs: Paudie O’Brien (0-1) for Wayne McNamara (Injured), Alan Dempsey for Richie McCarthy, Conor Allis (0-03) for David Breen, Shane Dowling for Niall Moran, Adrian Breen (0-2) for Paul Browne, David Reidy for Declan Hannon, Tommy Quaid for Graeme Mulcahy and Mark Carmody for Tom Condon.
Finally, in interprovincial news, Munster will play Ulster in the semi-finals of the M Donnelly Inter Provincial Hurling & Football competitions on Sunday 16 next in the Morgan Athletic Grounds Armagh.
Details of both Munster panels will be be announced over the coming days with Limerick players expected to feature heavily in both squads.
Fans of the history of the games can visit the Munster GAA web site at http://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-hurling/ to view the list of all the teams to represent Munster in the Inter Provincial Hurling and football competitions.
