All-Ireland GAA Football Championship Qualifier Round 2 – Limerick 3-13 Offaly 0-15

SFC Qualifier: Ryan shines on Shannonside

From the Hogan Stand web site

09 July 2011

Limerick defeated Offaly by 3-12 to 0-15 in this afternoon’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier at the Gaelic Grounds. An impressive display by Ian Ryan who scored 1-7 during the match paved the way for this victory and to be fair Limerick were worthy winners as they lead for the majority of this match. Erstwhile full back Scott Brady was named at centre forward on the Offaly team. Although named at full back against Monaghan, the Clara clubman featured at centre back, but led the attack with his younger brother Ross moving in the opposite direction. Limerick manager Maurice left us all guessing as to what his starting line up would be as he had to plan without a number of key players for this second round qualifier.

In the early exchanges, Limerick dropped Stephen Lavin back into defence to help out as the home side played against a strong wind in the first half. Tom Lee started well for the Shannonsiders at midfield, but after ten minutes it was Offaly that lead by 0-02 to 0-01 when Niall McNamee put the Faithful County ahead. However, Limerick were soon in front when Ian Ryan scored a good goal after a great move involving Lavin and this was followed by Ger Collins’ second point of the afternoon as Limerick were gathering momentum. Then further disaster for Offaly as Ryan fed Seamus O’Carroll, who raced through to finish low into the net to make it 2-02 to 0-02 after 15 minutes. Limerick were totally dominant at this stage and all Offaly could only manage a wide from Niall Darby.

A brilliant save by Alan Mulhall kept Offaly in the game after Stephen Kelly blasted a shot at goal, but Ryan was on hand to take his point from the rebound and push the home side seven points in front by the 17th minute. Limerick looked set to add a third goal a few minutes later when Ryan got in on goal, but his shot skimmed the crossbar and over for a point to make it 2-04 to 0-02. Veteran Ciaran McManus responded with a pointed free for Offaly, but they needed to build on this and McManus added a 14 metre free to leave six points between the sides. Darby and McNamee kicked wides as Offaly were winning everything around the middle now. Good work by Darby resulted in Bernard Allen scoring Offaly’s third consecutive point as they set about working their way into the deficit. Nonetheless, the impressive Ryan brought his tally to 1-3 when he kicked another point to keep six points between the sides.

A free by McManus 45 metres out from goal sailed over the bar to make it 2-5 to 0-06 by the half hour stage and the Tubber clubman scored yet another free for his fourth of the afternoon, which left the same tally between the sides. Darby was winning a lot of ball around the middle and it was he that was next on score sheet as his point made it 2-05 to 0-08 at half time. Offaly had the first chance of the second half, but McNamee fired wide for Offaly’s tenth of the game. Limerick hit a wide of their own when Lavin kicked a bad wide, but Ryan got the home side off the mark with his fourth point of the afternoon straight after. McNamee responded for Offaly after he did well to win the ball and beat two Limerick defenders before slotting over the bar to leave it 2-06 to 0-09. Substitute Padraig Bracken reduced the gap to two points after he got on the end of a fine move to slot over.

Limerick moved three points clear when Ryan hit yet another free to bring his tally to 1-5 and more importantly put three points back between the sides. Kelly added a free to move four clear and make the score 2-08 to 0-10. Offaly hit back with two points, but Ryan responded yet again with a fisted point to leave three points between the sides once again. The faithful hit the next point through McManus as they continued to stay in touch. Lee, who worked tirelessly through put three between the teams for not the first time in the match. Kelly and McManus exchanged points as the clock ticked down and still Limerick held a three-point lead 2-11 to 0-14 with only a few minutes remaining. McManus hit another free to make it a two-point game, but Collins scored a goal at the other end to leave Limerick five points up (3-11 to 0-15) with time running out. Limerick kicked the last score of the game to book their place in the tomorrow evening’s draw.

Match Preview

2011 Championship

Kerry 1-26 Limerick 3-9; Wexford 2-16 Offaly 0-8; Offaly 1-18 Monaghan 1-10

They last met in the qualifiers (Round 2) in 2002 when Limerick won by 3-9 to 2-7 in the Gaelic Grounds. The sides met in the Allianz League (Division 3) last February when Offaly won by 2-10 to 1-12. Limerick led by two points at half-time but Offaly fought back to edge home by a single point. They did extremely well in the first round of qualifiers, easily beating Monaghan who played in Division 1 last spring. Limerick qualified for Round 4 of the qualifiers last year as runners-up in Munster and took Cork to extra-time before losing by two points.