A strong second-half performance propelled Limerick to victory over London in Round 1 of the Tailteann Cup.
Tailteann Cup Round 1
LIMERICK 0-25 LONDON 1-15
By Tom Clancy in Newcastle West
A dominant third quarter propelled Limerick to a vital eight point victory in the Tailteann Cup as they got the better of London in Newcastle West.
Division Four champions Limerick were slow to settle and it was the visitors who were able to find their feet early doors. Ciarán Diver kicked two early points before Shay Rafter (free) put them 0-3 to 0-1 early on.
They were linking the play well and Michael Maher, their manager will have been pleased with their early innings.
Jimmy Lee’s charges made an eight minute spurt which pulled them well clear. Darragh O’Hagan landed the first two-pointer in the Tailteann Cup, before another youngster, Rigter, added a free from near the sideline – for another two.
Iain Corbett, Danny Neville and Naughton put the foot on the gas with accurate kicking as Limerick dominated the Andrew Walsh kickout.
However, trailing by nine points after this Limerick blitz, the Exiles rallied and Liam Gallagher (45), as well as a pair from Shay Rafter either side of a fine goal from Ruairí Rafferty saw the gap cut to just two at the interval.
It was 0-14 to 1-8 at the change of ends, the weather in Newcastle West tremendous with the surface matching.
London would only register six points in the second half as a much tighter home defence was on show.
In attack, sub Barry Coleman and veteran Iain Corbett both kicked two pointers with Joshua Obahor and Shay Rafter replying in between.
London went hunting goals in the dying stages with little to show for it. A nice two-pointer from Matt Moynihan cancelled out a monster free from Josh Ryan, the Treaty goalkeeper.
Limerick travel to Antrim next weekend, while London welcome Westmeath to Ruislip.
Scorers for Limerick: Emmet Rigter 0-4 (1 tpf); James Naughton 0-4; Peter Nash 0-3 (1f); Darragh O’Hagan 0-3 (1tp); Iain Corbett 0-3 (1tp); Danny Neville 0-2; Barry Coleman 0-2 (1tp); Josh Ryan 0-2 (1tpf); Tommy Childs 0-1; Rory O’Brien 0-1
Scorers for London: Shay Rafter 0-5; Ciarán Diver 0-4 (0-2 frees); Ruairí Rafferty 1-0; Matt Moynihan 0-2 (1tp) Liam Gallagher 0-1 (45); Daniel Clarke 0-1; Kristian Healy 0-1; Joshua Obahor 0-1
Limerick: Josh Ryan; Jason Hassett, Darren O’Doherty, Colm McSweeney; Mark McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Tadhg Ó Siochrú; Tommy Childs, Darragh O’Hagan; Paul Maher, Emmett Rigter, Cillian Fahy (C); Danny Neville, James Naughton, Peter Nash. Subs: Barry Coleman for McSweeney (half-time); Darragh Murray for Maher (44); Bob Childs for Rigter (54); Rory O’Brien for Neville (57); Killian Ryan for Corbett (65).
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Seán Taylor, Ciarán McCarrick; Eoin Walsh (C), Matt Moynahan, Conal Gallagher; Tighe Barry, Joshua Obahor; Liam Gallagher, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy; Ruairí Rafferty, Shay Rafter, Ciarán Diver. Subs: Conor Donohue for Barry (52); Fiontan Eastwood for Walsh (60); Nathan McElwaine for Gallagher (61); Michael O’Reilly for Clarke (66);Aidan McLaughlin for Obahor (68).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).
