GAA
Limerick face Wicklow this Saturday in Round Four of the Allianz Football league
Limerick are set to face Wicklow this Saturday in the football league. The Shannonsiders are looking to fix their mistakes of last week and get back to winning ways after falling to Louth in UL. Wicklow on the other hand have picked up just one point thus far, a second round draw with Fermanagh.
Saturday’s game take on huge implications as Limerick can move five clear with a win, but a loss would see their hosts come within one point of them.
The sides have a storied recent history with Limerick winning three of the last five, including the most recent pair.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, relive the past five meetings between the sides.
Wicklow 2-13 : 0-14 Limerick (National Football League)
18 March 2012 in Aughrim
Wicklow ended Limerick’s promotion hopes with a five point win in Aughrim.
Wicklow were 1-6 to 0-5 to the good at the interval with Tony Hannon hitting the net for the hosts.
Ten minutes into the second half and Leighton Glynn raised a green flag for Wicklow as they moved further ahead of a Limerick side that were heavily reliant on placed balls.
Over the course of the 70 minutes, Limerick had only five scores from play with Ian Ryan and Brian Scanlon adding the other 0-9 from placed balls.
Lorcan Dwyer was sent off for Limerick late on as Wicklow went on to secure promotion to the third tier with Limerick finishing in fourth place.
Limerick 2-13 : 2-9 Wicklow (National Football League)
2 April 2017 in Newcastle West
Limerick concluded a brilliant League campaign with a fourth successive win, the final coming at the expense of Wicklow in Newcastle West.
In Billy Lee’s first campiagn, Limerick’s promotion hopes were all but gone after the first three rounds as they fell to Westmeath, Wexford and Carlow.
But the side responded with four on the trot including the 2-13 to 2-9 win over Wicklow.
The result was enough for a fourth place finish in the League.
Wicklow 2-8 : 1-6 Limerick (National Football League)
10 February 2019 in Aughrim
Limerick’s last loss to Wicklow occured in 2019 as they fell to a 2-8 to 1-6 defeat in Aughrim.
It was a disappointing defeat for Lee’s side who looked in control for long periods of the second half, losing the lead late on with the concession of two goals.
Wicklow, with the aid of a breeze started the brighter and were 0-6 to 0-3 to the good at the half.
Sean McSweeney got Limerick off the mark in the second half with Colm McSweeney further closing the lead.
Seamus O’Carroll struck for goal to give Limerick their first lead of the day before the side fell under the pressure of the hosts.
Chris O’Brien landed the first sucker blow after dispossessing Limerick in defence before Theo Smith pounced for Wicklow’s second as they ran out five point winners.
The game ended Limerick’s 100% start to the League after wins over Waterford and London with Lee’s side failing to win another game that year.
Limerick 5-10 : 1-14 Wicklow (National Football League)
22 February 2020 in Mick Neville Park
Limerick continued their promotion push with a fourth successive league victory of 2020, this one a 5-10 to 1-14 win over Wicklow in Mick Neville Park.
With both sides looking for promotion, Billy Lee’s charges blitzed their visitors with three goals in nine first half minutes to take control of the contest.
Limerick were two clear when Michael Donovan bagged the first of those after 11 minutes. By the 20th minute, Danny Neville and Robbie Childs had joined him in that regard as Limerick moved 3-8 to 0-7 in front at the half.
A green flag from Iain Corbett inside three minutes of the restart put the game to bed with Seamus O’Carroll bagging the fifth.
Limerick did lose their following game to Antrim but after a lengthy break due to covid, they regrouped to win Division 4 in September.
Limerick 2-19 : 1-12 Wicklow (National Football League)
29 May 2021 in Aughrim
Limerick booked their place in the semi-final of division three at the first time of asking with a brilliant performance in Aughrim.
In a half where Limerick had eleven points on the board from eight different payers with each coming from play, the hosts were able to keep in touch with Billy Lee’s men through an Eoin Darcy goal after 30 minutes that levelled proceedings.
Limerick’s lead at the half was two with the Bourke brothers Hugh and Robbie both finding the taregt in injury time.
Their advantage was two at the final waterbreak and while Robbie Bourke couldn’t find the illusive net with a strike off the post shorty after, it was Danny Neville who eventually raised a green flag for Limerick a brilliant solo effort.
A couple of minutes later, the Ballysteen man was at it again, this time providing the assist for Hugh Bourke as Limerick moved 2-16 to 1-12 clear as they eased into the League semi-finals.