Offaly 1-19 Limerick 1-13  THE CURTAIN came down on a very traumatic season for Limerick when they recorded a moral victory of sorts as they bowed out in Tullamore on Saturday evening.

Limerick’s trials have been well documented this season but their manager, Justin McCarthy, and this group of players deserve huge admiration for the manner in which they put it up to a fancied Offaly side.

They may always have been chasing the game but with Offaly showing definite signs of having turned the corner this season, this was a good evening’s work for the visitors.

Indeed for a fleeting few minutes late on, a sensational victory seemed to be within their grasp. A Thomas O’Brien goal 11 minutes from the end was quickly followed by a point from Peter Russell to reduce the arrears to just two points, 1-15 to 1-13.

Offaly were a seriously worried outfit at this stage but a point from their best forward, Cathal Parlon settled their frayed nerves and with the winning post in sight, they weren’t going to be denied as late points from Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin and Parlon again sent them home with six points to spare.

It was a relieved Offaly side who trudged off the field at the end and, while they were clearly the better side, they were given a bigger fight than they anticipated.

OFFALY:J Dempsey; D Franks, P Cleary, J Rigney; D Kenny, R Hanniffy, D Morkan; D Hayden, B Murphy (0-2); B Carroll (0-3), J Brady (0-1), D Molloy (1-2); C Parlon (0-5), J Bergin (0-1), S Dooley (0-5, five frees). Subs:K Brady for Hayden (51 mins), G Healion for Molloy (65 mins).

LIMERICK:T Flynn; S O'Neill, C Hayes, K O'Rourke; L O'Dwyer, B O'Sullivan, P Browne; T O'Brien (1-7, four frees and two 65s), D Moore; J O'Brien, JV O'Brien (0-2), N Quaid (0-1); R McKeogh, A Owens, G Mulcahy (0-1). Subs:C Mullane (0-1) for Moore (33 mins), A Brennan for J O'Brien (half-time), M Noonan for McKeogh (47 mins), P Russell (0-1) for Owens (60 mins).

Referee:J Owens (Wexford).