IT WAS an opening day draw versus Cork in February which kept Limerick’s hope of promotion to Division 1A of the National hurling league, however another draw last weekend against Offaly looks almost certain now to have condemned Limerick to Division 1B for one more season.
With Cork winning in Antrim last weekend, it means that Limerick are a point behind the ‘Rebels’ ahead of the final round of games next weekend.
The 2-15 apiece draw sees Limerick travel to Laois next Sunday with one eye on the meeting of Cork and Wexford in Pairc Ui Rinn.
Limerick will be hoping that the Wexford men can do them a favour and defeat Jimmy Barry Murphy’s All Ireland finalists to have some hope of a top division place for next season.
With a quarter final spot already secured, Limerick were hoping to tie with Cork on points at the end of the league and hope that their points scoring difference would be enough to secure them a right of passage. This now appears to be a lost cause, unless of course, there is a shock result in Cork.
As it stands, the second placed side in Division 1B, Limerick, would face the third placed side in Division 1A, currently Kilkenny on March 30.
With promotion on the minds of the hurlers, the footballers are looking at the stark reality of relegation back into Division 4 of the National football league.
A 1-6 to 0-18 loss to Fermanagh last weekend in Newcastlewest have put Limerick second from bottom in the table with four points from five games.
The win over Wexford, all be it last minute, looks like it could be Limerick’s saving grace should they manage to defeat bottom of the table Offaly on March 30 in Tullamore.
With Cavan to visit the Gaelic Grounds on April 6, Limerick’s football know that they need to have points on the board ahead of the final round.
