Limerick 1-9 Leitrim 0-9: LIMERICK GOT their campaign off to a successful if unimpressive start against a new-look Leitrim at Páirc Seán MhicDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.

It took Limerick 11 minutes to open their account through an Ian Ryan point following a fifth-minute point from play by Leitrim’s Adrian Croal and a further exchange of points between Leitrim’s Robbie Lowe and Limerick’s Ian Ryan left the sides level on 0-3 at the interval.

Two Eoghan O’Connor points without reply gave Limerick the lead but Leitrim kept in touch with points from James Glancy and Colm Clarke. However Limerick pulled away with three unanswered points between the 48th and 53rd minute as Leitrim struggled. A John Riordan goal eight minutes from the end put Limerick six points ahead but Leitrim finished strongly scoring three points without reply and were denied an extra time goal by a resolute Limerick.

LIMERICK: B Scanlon; D Quaide, J McCarthy, L O’Dwyer; J Riordan (1-0), B Fitzpatrick, P Ranahan; S Buckley, S Lucey; D Treacy, E O’Connor (0-3), J Cooke; G Collins, J O’Meara, I Ryan (0-6, 0-2 frees).

LEITRIM: C McCrann; A Wynne, C Egan, P Maguire; D Beck, W McKeon, C Clarke (0-2); P McGowan, D Lowe; P Brennan, R Lowe (0-3), G Hickey; A Croal (0-1), J Glancy (0-3, frees), R Cox. Subs: C Sheridan for G Hickey, S Moran for P Brennan, D Sweeney for P McGowan.

Referee: S McLaughan (Donegal).