Sport

Limerick return to earth with a bump

DIVISION 2A/Armagh... 2-19 Limerick..

Mon Mar 11 2002 - 00:00

DIVISION 2A/Armagh ... 2-19 Limerick ... 2-6: Limerick, who had shocked Kerry the previous week, were brought back down to size at Carrickcruppin yesterday when they were completely outplayed in the second half by Armagh who thus recorded their fifth league win on the trot.

Limerick's early enterprise was successfully stifled in the first half when Armagh's pace and precision helped them into an unassailable lead.

Michael Reidy had fired a warning shot across the Armagh bows when he blasted in a seventh-minute goal, but Limerick were unable to capitalise on this tonic and even with the advantage of a gale-force wind, they trailed at the break by 1-6 to 1-2, Diarmaid Marsden having tucked away Armagh's goal in the 17th minute.

Such was Armagh's superiority in the second half that it was exhibition style football as the points flowed freely with Marsden, Oisin McConville and Stephen McDonnell lacerating the Limerick defence.

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McDonnell stabbed home his seventh goal of the league campaign, Marsden was the outstanding player in the pack and McConville's accuracy brought him seven points from frees and play.

It was only with the last kick of the game that Pat Ahern added a semblance of respectability to the scoreline when he swept in Limerick's second goal, but, long before that, all Armagh's thoughts had already turned to their confrontation with Kerry on Sunday week.

ARMAGH: B Tierney; E McNulty, J McNulty, J Donaldson; K Hughes, A O'Rourke, A McCann; P McGrane, C O'Neill; J Toal, J McEntee, O McConville (0-7); S McDonnell (1-4), D Marsden (1-4), T McEntee. Subs: K McGeeney (0-1) for Toal (half-time); P Loughran (0-1) for O'Neill (48 mins); P McKeever (0-1) for J McEntee (62 mins); P Duffy (0-1) for McDonnell (64 mins); K McElvanna for E McNulty (64 mins).

LIMERICK: A Kitson; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; C Mullane, S Lavin, D Reidy (0-2); J Quane, J Galvin; S Kelly, M Gavin, P Ahern (1-0); M Reidy (1-4), J Stokes,4 C Hickey. Subs: N Hunt for O'Riordan, T McLaughlin for Kelly (both half-time); J Murphy for Gavin (45 mins); J Miskell for Hickey (66 mins).

Referee: D Goldrick (Meath).