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Shane Dowling was red-carded early at the Gaelic Grounds. Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Limerick's promotion hopes suffer major setback with home defeat to Offaly

TJ Ryan’s side had Shane Dowling sent off inside two minutes.

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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    Mute martintim
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:47 AM

    Aul Pele talks a lot of shi*#e most of the time in fairness

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    Mute Don Draper
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    Mar 13th 2015, 6:25 AM

    Dementia must be setting in

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Mar 13th 2015, 10:13 AM

    Pele before the 1994 World Cup: ‘Watch Columbia’(They were on the first plane home), ‘An African Nation will win the world cup before the end of the century(Not sure he realised there was only one more world cup between 1994 and the end of the century)

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    Mute Gearóid Daly
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:13 AM

    Marodona is better than pele. No reason

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    Mute Mark Noonan
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    Mar 13th 2015, 7:19 AM

    Who did marodona play with?

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Mar 14th 2015, 11:57 AM

    Sligo rovers?

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    Mute foxyfonz
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:34 AM

    In 1994 he said Norway would win the World cup.

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Mar 14th 2015, 12:03 PM

    When we all know it was north Korea. They’ve won every one before, and every one after. Our dear leader said so.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:28 AM

    Go Home Pele you’re drunk.

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:16 AM

    Yes he’s an icon for his playing ability but no one takes any notice of what this fella says. He never makes any sense. Neymar is becoming world class and should become a great player. But he will never even touch the levels of brilliance Messi hits on a bad day.

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    Mute Masterofgamz
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:20 AM

    Ronaldo is better

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    Mute pjm
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    Mar 13th 2015, 11:38 AM

    Pele is a clown, he seems to think that you cannot be judged as the greatest if you don’t win the World Cup, even though it only comes around every four years and most players aren’t fortunate enough to be born German or Brazilian. The man is just clutching at straws, the greatest show on earth is the Champions League but that bitter old fool just can’t accept it because he never played club football out of the Americas.

    Maradona was better than Pele anyway but surely now Messi and Ronaldo deserve their place at the very top of the greatest footballers ever.

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    Mute Cathal O'Donoghue
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    Mar 13th 2015, 11:01 AM

    Can’t help wondering whether the great man actually watched the World Cup. Messi had some great moments while ronaldo was a petulant child on the greatest stage. I know he was injured but his attitude was awful.

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    Mute Narf Sinktaw
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:16 AM

    Nasser Al Shamrani well be best player this year

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    Mute Kieran Fogarty
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    Mar 13th 2015, 10:28 AM

    He also said that Emre would become one of the best players in the world.

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    Mute Jb Sonam
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    Mar 13th 2015, 1:21 PM

    Messi is king of football and father of penaldo
    …..

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    Mute Genesis
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    Mar 13th 2015, 12:53 PM

    That relic is still hanging around??

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Mar 14th 2015, 12:01 PM

    I don’t think it’s right to say “Ronaldo is better than Messi” or visa versa. They are both amazing players. Two of the best to ever grace the game. To say one is better than the other is nuts. They are two different types of brilliant.

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    Mute Micheál Seamus Xavie
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    Mar 13th 2015, 8:17 PM

    Pele would want to shut the F up

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    Mute Patrick Shields
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    Mar 14th 2015, 1:49 AM

    He had El Hadji Diouf in his top 100 as well

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