Div One B/Offaly ... 2-16 Limerick ... 1-12: The trauma of the Mark Foley controversy in the preceding days was accentuated for Limerick at Kilmallock yesterday when makeshift Offaly capitalised on their squabbles to mastermind a 2-16 to 1-12 win. An ashen-faced Limerick manager Dave Keane conceded afterwards they were never in the game.
"We had no game plan, showed no cohesion and just did not seem to have the energy . . . things which Offaly had in abundance. Yes, it had been a difficult week off the pitch but I am not making any excuses."
His opposite number Michael McNamara, when asked if he had anticipated such an outcome, he responded: "All issues aside, yes, I knew we were going to get the points. Give credit to our lads. We have been team building and were up for this one. Perhaps Limerick can take a lesson from us."
When Foley led his team onto the field there was a muted response from the 3,000 supporters, as if they were unsure if the controversy which had raged for days had gone away. They got their answer in the first half when Damien Murray, Brendan Murphy and Brian Carroll drilled holes in a suspect defence.
Only a string of good saves from Timmy Houlihan and a sterling performance from Clement Smith at wing back saved Limerick from a drubbing. There might not have been reason for them to press the panic buttons after 32 minutes when wind-assisted Offaly led 0-9 to 1-3, with TJ Ryan the goalscorer.
That all changed as the lead was stretched to eight points within minutes of the restart when the lively Brian Carroll went on a solo before firing past Houlihan, to leave it 1-12 to 1-4.
Limerick just did not have the energy to claw their way back. Ger Oakley, in the unfamiliar role of full back for Offaly, and David Franks, provided ample cover for goalkeeper Stephen Byrne.
Limerick depended on Mark Keane to keep them in touch with a hat-trick of points from frees, but Offaly, with Joe Brady a driving force at centre back, and Michael Cordial and Aidan Hanrahan shading it at midfield, were not for the turning.
The crowd grew restless as Carroll, Brendan Murphy and Damien Murray landed well-delivered points. In 64 minutes it was all over as Murray clocked up goal number two. Offaly were reduced to 14 players after corner back Kevin Brady was sent off for a second bookable offence.
OFFALY: S Byrne; K Brady, G Oakley, B Teehan; C Cassidy, J Brady, D Franks (0-1); M Cordial, A Hanrahan; B Carroll (1-6), N Coughlan (0-1), B Murphy (0-3), K Kelly (0-1), N Murphy (0-1), D Murray (1-3). Subs: C Gath for Murphy, A Mannion for Kelly.
LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, E Mulcahy, M O'Brien, E Foley (0-1), B Geary, C Smith; P Lawlor, M O'Brien; J Moran, M Foley (0-2), O Moran, D Sheehan, TJ Ryan (1-0), M Keane (0-7). Subs: B Begley (0-1) for J Moran, B Foley (0-1) for O'Brien, J Meskell for O Moran.
Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny).
