2024 Allianz Football League Division 3 – Antrim 2-14 Limerick 2-7

Antrim defeated Limerick by 2-14 to 2-7 in Round 1 of the 2024 Allianz Football League Division 3 on Sunday January 28th at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale.

Strong finish sees Antrim earn win over wasteful Limerick

Antrim 2-14 Limerick 2-7

Report by Tom Clancy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

A strong final quarter helped Antrim shake off Limerick and claim a valuable two-points to open their Division Three league campaign. Surrendering almost all of their eight-point lead, it took a Ruairí McCann goal to wrestle back control over a new-look Treaty outfit.

Andy McEntee will be thrilled with the success, particularly when the Saffrons had collected just a brace of wins in their league season in 2023. They were far more efficient in attack, with Limerick’s wastefulness symptomatic of their slump over the last 12 months.

This game had a brace of penalties, four goals and two black cards – all shared evenly between the two sides, but the telling difference was Limerick’s shooting. As well as eight wides, they had two efforts hit the posts, while a number also fell short. Antrim, by contrast, looked more assured when shooting, especially in the opening half.

Eoin Hynds opened the scoring from the first play, with a Michael Byrne free doubling the Antrim advantage. Captain Iain Corbett replied for Limerick, with a trademark run cutting through an organised defence.

Playing with the gusting breeze, McEntee’s men picked holes in a new-look Limerick rearguard and found the net from a 22nd-minute penalty. After collecting a dropping shot, keeper Aaron O’Sullivan coughed up the ball and fouled Niall Burnes, with Dominic McEnhill converting.

It was 1-7 to 0-2 by the time Ruairí McCann (Cregán) opened his account on 30 minutes, but bothers Robbie and Tommie Childs kicked the last two points for Limerick to cut the gap.

Dermot McAleese was black carded for a body check on Paul Maher seconds into the second period, though the amount of contact was disputed by the Antrim captain. This gave Limerick the impetus – first O’Sullivan knocked over a 45, before Corbett sailed over another.

Corbett, by far the most experienced player in the Limerick panel, brought the score to 1-6 to 1-7 when he netted a penalty, which was conceded by Byrne who was adjudged to have lay on the ball in the square.

The Shannonsiders were wasteful, with Corbett and clubmate Eoin Hurley kicking wides when they looked to have all the momentum. This was punished when Antrim found their feet with three quick points.

Back to 15 men, McCann, Byrne and McEnhill reopened the four-point margin, but Limerick got their second goal on 56 minutes. Forcing a turnover, Tommie Childs struck first time to the top corner. But, from the kick-out Antrim worked the ball up and McCann ghosted in behind to raise a green flag of his own.

This took the sting out of the Limerick challenge, who soon lost Brian O’Sullivan to a black card and the 0-4 to 0-1 in the final 10 minutes reflected the dominance held by Antrim.

Scorers for Limerick: I Corbett 1-2 (1-0 pen); T Childs 1-1; P Nash (mark), R Childs, A O’Sullivan (45), C Fahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Antrim: D McEnhill 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees); R McCann 1-2; M Byrne (frees) 0-2; E Hynds, D McAleese, N Burnes, R Boyle 0-1 each.

Limerick: A O’Sullivan; T McCarthy, S O’Dea, B O’Sullivan; C McSweeney, R Childs, P Maher; T Childs, T Griffin; I Corbett, C Fahy, B Coleman; D Daly, J Naughton, P Nash.
Subs: E Rigter for Naughton (inj – 28); E Hurley for Daly (35); C Downes for T Griffin (44), A Meade for Nash (63).

Antrim: M Byrne; R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; M Hordan, J Finnegan, D McAleesse (C); C McLarnon, P McAleer; E Hynds, N Burnes, R McCann; P McBride, C McGettigan, D McEnhill.
Subs: C Hand for Boyle (69); D Lynch for McAleese (70); B Kelly for McAleer (70).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

Match Preview

Division Three in the #AllianzLeagues should be highly competitive once again #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 26, 2024

Team News

Jimmy Lee has announced his Limerick Senior Football team and match panel for their opening Allianz Football League game:

Limerick Senior Football team to face Antrim this Sunday has just been announced, Limerick face Antrim in Mick Neville Park at 12.30pm. pic.twitter.com/LIxpTZ4La9

— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) January 26, 2024

LIMERICK: Aaron O’Sullivan (Pallasgreen); Tony McCarthy (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Sean O’Dea (Kilteely-Dromkeen), Brian O’Sullivan (Newcastle West); Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins), Bob Childs (Galtee Gaels), Paul Maher (Adare); Tommie Childs (Galtee Gaels), Cathal Downes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Iain Corbett (Newcastle West), Emmet Rigter (Newcastle West), Cillian Fahy (Drom-Broadford); Barry Coleman (Rathkeale), James Naughton (St Senan’s), Peter Nash (Kildimo-Pallaskenry).
SUBS: Jeffrey Alfred (Adare), Andrew Meade (Rathkeale), Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffins), Shane Doherty (Adare), Eoin Hurley (Newcastle West), Daniel Daly (Monaleen), Joe Sweeney (Adare), Aaron Neville (Newcastle West), Shane Costello (Adare), Jamie Baynham (Monagea), Jim Liston (Gerald Griffins).