Gaelic Games

Limerick ride to Antrim victory on the back of early goals

Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan outstanding to see off hopes of a revival

Limerick’s Tony McCarthy breaks clear of Antrim’s Patrick Gallagher during the All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round 1B at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photograph: Declan Roughan/Inpho/Presseye
Sat Jun 25 2016 - 22:02

Antrim 0-9 Limerick 2-6

Limerick were forced to enter the lion’s den at Corrigan Park in Belfast to play their All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Antrim on Saturday, when a request for the game to be switched to Croke Park was turned down by the Ulster county. Because of that, the Shannonsiders’ 2-6 to 0-9 win was all the sweeter.

The Munster men thoroughly deserved their unexpected success, their first since beating Louth in the league during April 2015. They played the more positive football and they got a couple of early goals that laid the foundations of victory and gave the winners the boost they needed.

The goals arrived in the sixth and eighth minute, The first by Ian Ryan, from a neat cross pass by Seán Buckley, the second from the penalty spot, after Darragh Treacy had been impeded. Seán McSweeney fired the ball low to Chris Kerr's left and it nestled in the corner of the net.

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The winners’ darting runs at the opposition defence had the home side in trouble and, even playing against the wind, Limerick led by 2-2 to 0-6 at the interval.

Antrim had chances to level the battle immediately after the restart but the shooting boots weren’t on. Still, it took three superb saves by Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan to prevent Antrim goals. Those stops won the game for the visitors, as Antrim were confined to just three points, from free-kicks, in the second half and Limerick’s name entered the second-round draw.

ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O'Boyle, R Johnson, P Gallagher; J Laverty, J Crozier, M Sweeney; S McVeigh, M McCann; P McBride (0-2), M Fitzpatrick (0-1), K Niblock (0-2, one free); R Murray (0-2, one free), N McKeever, S Burke (0-1).

Subs: M Johnson for McVeigh (20 mins), D McAleese for Laverty (31 mins), P McAleer for R Johnson (half-time), C Murray for Gallagher (half-time), T McCann (0-1, free) for McKeever (55 mins).

LIMERICK: D Sullivan; J McCarthy, P Browne, S Cahill (0-1); B Fanning, S O'Shea, P Rannahan; D Treacy, T Childs; G Noonan, P Nash, S Buckley; S McSweeney (1-3, 1-0 penalty, three frees), I Ryan (1-2, one free), H Bourke.

Subs: E Hogan for Bourke (54 mins), P Hannon for Nash (62 mins), I Corbett for Childs (66 mins).

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).