THE footballers maintained their winning start to the season as the hurlers were beaten in their opener.
There was a contrast of fortunes for the Limerick senior men’s sides over the weekend with a win and a loss.
And while John Kiely’s hurlers have become the dominant side in Ireland over the past number of year’s, it was his team that were beaten by Wexford in their League opener while Billy Lee’s footballers got the job done in Antrim to maintain their 100% record in Division 3.
On Saturday, early goals from Cian Sheehan and Peter Nash set the tone for the footballers who were full value for a 2-9 to 0-11 win in Corrgan Park.
Twenty four hours later, the hurlers struggled in difficult conditions in Wexford Park, making a number of uncharacteristic errors in a low scoring contest that finished 1-11 to 0-11 in the hosts favour.
Both sides won’t be in League action on the same weekend until the end of February and with the hurlers back in action this Saturday, we look at the key points to emerge from the second week of League action below.
Billy Lee’s side show more signs of progress
Five years ago, Billy Lee led his Limerick side into the League for the first time and after a slow start, four successive wins to finish their spring campaign hinted at an uptake in fortunes. But poor League seasons in 2018 and ’19 were a setback for the side who picked up just three wins in that time. Four successive wins kicked off the 2020 campaign and while promotion was secured, Limerick did suffer a heavy defeat in Antrim, losing by twelve points.
But last Saturday in Corrigan Park, Limerick led from pillar to post as they took the game to the hosts. Early green flags settled the nerves but the Shannonsiders showed composure in keeping Antrim at arms length throughout. Going to Antrim is never easy, and while they were made to pay for their inaccuracy there in Division 4 two years ago, Limerick were clinical this time around in a grade higher.
More green shoots for Billy Lee’s men who have dealt with the loss of a number of key players effortlessly.
Shannonsiders struggle in soft ground
Eleven points. A meagre total for the Limerick hurlers whatever way you look at it with the Shannonsiders so often surpassing that total in both halves of a contest. Indeed, inside fifteen minutes of last year’s All-Ireland final, Limerick had 2-6 on the board which would have bettered Sunday’s score.
Nonetheless, it is something that will have to be rectified this weekend against Galway. Limerick will have the benefit of home advantage and it is reasonable to suggest that conditions will be more conducive to hurling in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick registered 16 wides in the wind in Wexford Park, twelve of those coming in the first half alone. A demoralising tally under any circumstances. Gearoid Hegarty aside, Limerick looked blunt in attack with the other five forwards failing to find the target from play.
Every team is entitled to an off day but Kiely and co will be keen to rectify the wrongs of lasy weekend as soon as possible.
Promotion has to be the aim for the footballers
In their first year back in the third tier, Limerick exceeded expectations as they reached the Division 3 semi-finals last year. Derry proved too strong but the Ulster side have gone from strength to strength in the meantime with defeat nothing to be ashamed off.
Limerick entered this season with a full seven game schedule in Division 3 and despite last year’s performances, maintaining their place in the Division would have been the number one goal with three of last year’s starting championship team absent and five more also gone from the panel.
But a pair of wins and a top of the table spot after two games should be enough for survival regardless of results from here on in. And while promotion would have been the aim within the group heading into the year, that is a real possibility as Billy Lee’s men have their tails up.
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Up next is Louth in a week’s time where another win could send Division 2 hopes into overdrive.
Defensive flourish in defeat
Limiting a side to 1-11 would generally be more than enough to secure the win in the majority of hurling games with the scoring in recent times skyrocketing. Only once previously in John Kiely’s tenure would an opposition score of 1-11 see Limerick fail to win, that occurring in their clash with Wexford in the same venue in Kiely’s first competitive game in charge in 2017 where Limerick racked up 0-14.
Nonetheless, while the attacking failures cost Limerick the win, the performances of their defence will certainly give Kiely plenty of confidence as they dominated their opposition. Although there was an argument that he was being fouled in the process, Mikie Dwyer’s goal shouldn’t have stood with the Wexford man taking a bucket load of steps.
The full-back line of Nash, Morrissey and English were impeccable with the former a shoo-in for man of the match were Limerick to win. Morrissey won his battle with Conor McDonald while English continued his early season excellence.
Declan Hannon was flawless at centre-back, popping up with a brilliant score in the first half as the Adare man seemed unperturbed by the conditions. Beside him Diarmaid Byrnes clipped over 0-3 from placed balls while Colin Coughlan further solidified his shout for a starting berth.
And in goals, Nickie Quaid was named on the team of the week for his shot stopping heroics and puck outs.
All this was achieved without Hurler of the Year candidates Sean Finn and Kyle Hayes. Galway will be a more formidable threat up top but Limerick are looking poised to deal with that.
An angry Limerick is a dangerous one
And talk about being poised, an angry Limerick has proved a very dangerous one in recent times. Just ask Cork who were on the receiving end of an onslaught in the League last year as Limerick returned home to the Gaelic Grounds after a league defeat.
After successive losses to Galway and Waterford, John Kiely’s men dominated the Rebels on the Ennis Rd, hitting 0-33 on the same night.
The backs were in superb form in Wexford and should the forwards match that this weekend, we could see something more in fitting with the performances of late 2021 under the lights this weekend.
The post Talking Points | Contrasting Results for Limerick’s footballers and hurlers with Lee’s men staying 100% appeared first on Sporting Limerick.
