Limerick 3-17 Wicklow 0-9 Thirty-two-year-old John Quane has given 14 years uninterrupted service to unfashionable Limerick. Yesterday he reaped some reward for his loyalty when he realised a long-held ambition by guiding them to Allianz NFL Division One status for next season.
Quane left the pitch at Kilmallock after a 16-point demolition job on Wicklow to be mobbed by fans, happy in the knowledge that they had taken one of the promotion spots in the highly competitive Division Two A.
A few minutes later he was to learn that had his team managed just one more score - and several chances had gone a-begging in the second half - they would have overtaken Westmeath at the top of the table.
As it transpired, Westmeath and Limerick finished level on 12 points and had the same scoring differential, but by virtue of their earlier win over the Green and Whites in Mullingar, Westmeath got the nod to claim pole position.
"I suppose you could say it is a marvellous occasion for Limerick football," said manager Liam Kearns, hoping to make it to Croke Park in the Division Two final.
"We have worked hard for this over the last three years and nobody will deny us our moment of glory."
Tom Gill served a reminder that Wicklow might be ready to make a contest of it with a point after two minutes.
Michael Reidy soon had the show on the road for the Shannonsiders, however. With Brian Begley, Muiris Gavin (2) and John Galvin finding their range, the scoreboard was kept ticking over.
Wicklow probably knew they were not about to spoil the party when Michael Reidy set up Brian Begley for the game's opening goal, on 23 minutes, to leave it 1-6 to 0-2.
There was more jubilation on 30 minutes when Brian Begley latched onto a cross from Stephen Kelly to strike home goal number two, and at 2-9 to 0-2 it was a question of how much Limerick would tot up. By half time it was 2-12 to 0-3.
Wicklow, feeling left out, made use of the slight wind in the second half to cut arrears with two unanswered points from Anthony Nolan.
Limerick had now lost some of their cutting edge. John Galvin got them back on course but Wicklow were refusing to down arms and Nolan made it 2-13 to 0-6.
In 50 minutes John Galvin hit a cracking goal, with Kelly the playmaker.
Nolan and John Slattery had points at the other end. Limerick desperately needed to pull that something extra out of the bag. They managed just two more points in the final 10 minutes, from Muiris Gavin, matched by Tommy Gill and Nolan.
Word was coming through that Westmeath were ahead by a four-point margin. Limerick needed one more score - but it was not to be.
Still, second in the table, a place in the semi finals of Division Two, and the chance to compete with the big boys next season - all grounds for satisfaction.
LIMERICK: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; C Mullane, J Quane, D Reidy; J Stokes, J Galvin (1-2); S Lavin (0-2), M Gavin (0-6), S Kelly (0-2); C Fitzgerald (0-2), B Begley (2-2), M Reidy (0-1). Subs: C Hickey for Lavin, J Murphy for M Reidy, P Ahern for Begley.
WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; K Hyland, A Byrne, T Burke; C Murphy, B O'Hannah, B Flynn; D O'Hannah, D Dillon; A Nolan (0-4, 0-1 45), D Dempsey, J Slattery (0-2): T Gill (0-3), D McGillicuddy, P Cronin (0-1). Subs: S Cush for Flynn, C Flannery for Dempsey.
Referee: S McCormack (Meath).
