IN THE opening defence of their title, John Kiely’s experimental Limerick side easily dispatched the challenge of Antrim, 1-36 to 1-9, at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
At the interval, the All-Ireland champions led comfortably, 0-16 to 1-7. The closing half was merely a stroll in the park for a largely youthful Limerick selection.
A pleasing aspect for boss Kiely was the immense collective display of Limerick’s inside forward line – Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Monaleen, (1-7), Shane O’Brien, Kilmallock, (0-5), and Adam English, Doon, (0-10) – who between them returned an immense 1-22.
Limerick are in Mullingar on Sunday next to face Westmeath.
In their opener, Westmeath suffered a 30-odd point defeat away to Galway. But for the brilliance of the visiting goalkeeper, Noel Conaty, the margin between the sides would have been far greater.
Limerick: Jamie Power; Fergal O’Connor, DanMorrissey, Aaron Costello; Diarmaid Byrnes, DavidReidy, Mark Quinlan; Barry Murphy, Colin Coughlan; Gearóid Hegarty, Cathal O’Neill, Conor Boylan; Adam English, Shane O’Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh.
Substitutes used: Micheál Houlihan, Ethan Hurley, Graeme Mulcahy, Patrick O’Donovan, and Emmet McEvoy.
