THE Limerick footballers are Dublin bound for this weekend’s National League Final.
Limerick return to Croke Park for the first time since 2013 this weekend as they take on Louth in the Division 3 final.
Billy Lee’s men missed out on a league final in 2020 with the truncated nature of the season declaring the Shannonsiders and Wicklow as joint winners of the bottom division with no decider.
Trips to Croker have been rare occurrences for Limerick football over the years following three appearances at GAA HQ from 2010-2013.
Twelve years ago, Limerick claimed Division 4 honours at the expense of Waterford while repeating the feat against Offaly three years later.
In between that, Limerick were beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The aforementioned Offaly clash was Limerick’s most recent trip to Croke Park, as they claimed Division 4 honours.
And ahead of Saturday’s cash with Louth, we look back on that game.
Limerick 0-16 : 1-11 Offaly (Division 4 National Football League Final)
27 April 2013 in Croke Park
Limerick left it late to secure a second Division 4 title in four years after overcoming Offaly by a couple of points in Croke Park.
An early flurry saw Offaly open up an impressive lead inside a quarter of an hour. Seanie Buckley replied to Ken Casey’s opener but two more followed from the Leinster side before Ross Brady hit the net to push them clear which was 1-3 to 0-1 before Ian Ryan got Limerick’s second after 17 minutes.
Niall McNamee responded for Offaly but Ryann hit the next three scores, two from frees and one from play, to reduce the deficit to two.
Iain Corbett and Stephen Lavin ensured Limerick had found parity before the turn of ends.
Stephen Lucey gave Limeick their first lead of the day after the restart but two from McNamee restored Offaly’s advantage.
This time it was John Riordan who levelled proceedings but a pair from Brian O’Connor gave Offaly a two point cushion with ten to play.
But Offaly didn’t score again as Limerick took control of the final. Lavin brought Limeick within one while Derry O’Connor levelled. Eoghan O’Connor then kicked Limerick into the lead with Seamus O’Carroll making it a two pint game as Limerick secured the honours.
Limerick: D O’Sullivan; L O’Dwyer, M O’Riordan, P Browne; S Lavin (0-2), S Lucey (0-1), P Ranahan; B O’Brien, J Galvin; J Riordan (0-1), T Lee (0-1), S Buckley (0-1); E O’Connor (0-1), I Corbett (0-1), I Ryan (0-5,4f)
Subs: D O’Connor (0-2) for T Lee (56), M Sheehan for S Lucey (57), S O’Carroll (0-1 ’45) for J Galvin (67), D Tracey for I Ryan (68).
Offaly: A Mulhall; S Pender, P McConway, B Darby (0-1); E Carroll, R Brady (1-0), M Brazil; R Dalton, A McNamee; G Guilfoyle, B O’Connor (0-2), N Darby; A Sullivan, N McNamee (0-4), K Casey (0-4,1f)
Subs: D Kelly for A McNamee, W Mulhall for A Sullivan.
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