Offaly 1-21
Limerick 0-21

LIMERICK’S CHANCES OF finishing at the top of Allianz Hurling League Division 1B have significantly lessened following a costly home defeat this evening.

TJ Ryan’s side, who were a man down after just over a minute of the game, were on the end of a three-point defeat to Offaly at the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick were left to face an uphill task in the second minute when Shane Dowling was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident involving Offaly’s Dermot Shortt.

Nevertheless, the hosts initially seemed to handle that early blow well, as they led by 0-8 to 0-4 until Emmet Nolan fired home the game’s only goal in the 24th minute to bring Offaly to within a point.

Offaly moved ahead thanks to three points without reply, but Limerick responded well with four unanswered points of their own to take a 0-12 to 1-7 lead into the break.

Limerick continued to defy their numerical disadvantage in the early stages of the second-half as they led by 0-18 to 1-12 in the 47th minute, but from there Offaly took control.

In a 15-minute spell, the visitors registered eight points in succession by the time Limerick scored again. That left Offaly leading by 1-20 to 0-18 with eight minutes remaining.

Although Limerick managed to reduce the gap to three, Offaly held on for a crucial victory that leaves a major dent in Limerick’s promotion hopes and puts Offaly back in unlikely contention.

Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 ‘65), Emmet Nolan 1-2, Joe Bergin 0-3, Dan Currams, Dermot Mooney, Stephen Quirke 0-2 each, Shane Kinsella 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: Seanie Tobin 0-9 (0-5f), Paul Browne 0-4, Donal O’Grady 0-2, David Breen, James Ryan, Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon (0-1f), Seanie O’Brien, David Reidy (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Offaly

1. James Dempsey (Kinnity)

2. Stephen Wynne (St Rynagh’s)
3. Dermot Shortt (St Rynagh’s)
4. David King (Coolderry)

5. Cathal Parlon (Coolderry)
6. Eanna Murphy (Seir Kieran)
7. Colin Egan (Belmont)

8. Pat Camon (St Rynagh’s)
9. Sean Ryan (Birr)

10. Emmet Nolan (Birr)
11. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)
12. Shane Kinsella (Kinnity)

13. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
14. Dan Currams (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
15. Brian Carroll (Coolderry)

Subs
Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran) for James Mulrooney (24)
Stephen Quirke (St Rynagh’s) for Brian Carroll (33)
Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran) for Eanna Murphy (51)
Sean Cleary (Shinrone) for Shane Kinsella (63)

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Stephen Walsh (Glenroe)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher)

5. Conor Allis (Croom)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)

8. James Ryan (Garryspillane)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)

10. David Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry)
12. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

13. John Fitzgibbon (Adare)
14. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
15. Seanie Tobin (Murroe-Boher)

Subs
Seanie O’Brien (Patrickswell) forHickey (inj) (45)
David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for Fitzgibbon (49)
Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Grady (65)
Tom Morrissey (Ahane) for Tobin (68)

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).

- This article was first published on 14 March at 9.02pm

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