GAA
Limerick face Louth this weekend for the second time with League honours on the line.
Croke Park will host this weekend’s meeting of Limerick and Louth as they pair meet in the Division 3 football final at 4.45pm on Saturday.
Limerick’s win over Fermanagh last weekend ensures division two football for 2023 with the clash this weekend for league bragging rights.
Mickey Harte’s Louth topped the group with five successive meetings, including one over this weekend’s opponents in February, an unforgettable contest in UL.
Meetings between the teams have been few and far between with this being only the fifth clash since 2009. In that time, they have split the contests with the most important clash, the upcoming one on Saturday in Croker.
Ahead of that game, check out the most recent clashes between the sides.
Limerick 1-12 : 1-14 Louth (National Football League)
20 February 2022 in Limerick
Louth snatched victory in the North Campus of UL as they beat Limerick 1-14 to 1-12 in the third round of the National League.
Louth kicked seven successive scores down the stretch, including a pair in injury time to seal the victory and inflict a first defeat of the League on Limerick.
With a change in venue early on Louth were able to get a great start scoring a goal within two minutes. Billy Lee’s men were able to rally together and went into halftime in the lead through a Josh Ryan 45′.
Limerick’s Hugh Bourke bagged a goal retaining the lead for the home side until Louth found their form and managed to scrape the victory.
Louth 2-13 : 2-15 Limerick (National Football League)
5 April 2015 in Drogheda
Limerick staved off relegation with a two point win over Louth in Drogheda as they condemned the hosts to Division 4.
With Limerick also facing the prospect of relegation, John Brudair’s side were one point to the good at the half, despite dominating possesion.
And things looked ominous for the Shannonsiders with Louth kicking the first pair of scores in the second half.
But Peter Nash’s goal swung the momentum with Pa Ranahan also finding the net for Limerick who streaked clear.
The hosts had a pair of goals late on but it was too little to late as Limerick held on for safety while Llouth suffered another relegation.
Louth 1-11 : 1-14 Limerick (National Football League)
20 March 2011 in Drogheda
Limerick overcame Louth by three points to keep their chances of safety alive in a very competitive Division 3.
At the half, the visiotrs were two points clear despite Sean Lennon’s goal at the hosts as Limerick took a 0-9 to 1-4 advantage into the break.
Louth hit back upon the restart with the sides level three times until the 55th minute. Limerick substitute Eoghan O’Connor struck the post with a goal bound effort but the rebound fell to Pa Ranahan who made no mistake to raise the green flag.
O’Connor put Limerick three up and despite the best efforts of the hosts, Limerick held on for a crucial win on Drogheda.
However, when all was said and done, Limerick were relegated to Division 4 while Louth were promoted, with just two points between the sides.
Louth 1-14 : 0-6 Limerick (National Football League)
1 February 2009 in Drogheda
Louth kicked off their 2009 League campaign with an impressive win over Limerick in Drogheda.
JP Rooney had the only goal of the game for Louth with the Naomh Mairtin man finishing with 1-3. Ronan Carroll also added three points from play as the hosts dominated the contest.
Ian Ryan was Limerick’s brightest spark as he kicked over 0-4 on a forgettable day.
The loss proved to be crucial in the grand scheme of things with the sides finishing level on points but Limerick suffering relegation with an inferior goal difference, as their -8 paled in comparison to Louth’s +11 with the eleven point win in round one coming back to haunt Limerick.