Defeat for Limerick as Louth claim League honours

Limerick were defeated in today’s Division 3 National League final.

Louth are Division 3 champions after the beat Limerick in the League final today in Croke Park. Sam Mulroy, as he was in the earlier defeat in Ul was the scorer in chief with 0-6 as Ciaran Byrne added four from play.

Limerick led by a point at the half but a scoring spree midway through the second half turned the contest as Louth kicked 1-4 on the trot to swing the contest.

Louth kicked wide with the first attack of the day and Josh Ryan made them pay at the other end, kicking over an easy free for the first score of the day after Cillian Fahy was hacked down en route to goal.

Sam Mulroy relied with a 45′ before Ciaran Byrne kicked Louth into their first lead of the day. Mulory had a great chance for a goal but Donal O’Sullivan got enough of a block to allow Sean O’Dea scramble the ball off the line.

Adrian Enright had a beauty of his left to level momentarily but another Mulroy 45′ restored the Wee County’s advantage.

Daire Nally gave Louth their first two point lead of the day after the quarter mark but Hugh Bourke popped up with his first from the next attack.

Bourke’s second had Limerick level, another excellent shot off his right after cutting in. Peter Nash then gave Limerick the lead with a similar effort as Mike Donovan made it 0-6 to 0-4.

Mulroy had two more frees sandwiched between an Enright effort to clos the half at 0-7 to 0-6 in Limerick’s favour.

Ryan kicked a beauty of his left to start the second half but John Clutterback had the retort for Louth. Ryan hit his third, this time a handpass but it was Ciaran Byrne who kicked the response with this time.

With his last intervention of the game, Peter Nash had his second of the day after 48 minutes. But Louth hit a purple patch, and within three minutes they kicked 1-2 to take the lead. Liam Jackson getting the goal after Louth broke the length of the pitch.

That left it at 1-10 to 0-10 in their favour with 52 played. Byrne’s third had Louth four clear. A monster free from Mulroy then followed.

Robbie Bourke hit back with one of his own, a beauty from out near the sideline. But Byrne had the response as he took his tally to four for the afternoon.

Niall Sharkey found the target for Louth who went six clear with three to play. Robbie Bourke had his second free but that was the final act of the day as Louth deservedly took the title.