Limerick begin league campaign with ten-point win over Laois

As expected Limerick got their Allianz National League campaign off to a wining start with a 1-25 to 0-18 win over Laois at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

Patrickwell’s Aaron Gillane was Limerick’s top scorer accounting for eleven points from both open play and placed ball as John Kiely’s side made a solid start to what promises to be a tricky league campaign.

Laois made a solid start with Ben Conroy getting his side of the mark with an early score.

However Limerick countered well and moved into a 0-04 to 0-02 lead inside ten minutes following scores from Gillane and his Patrickswell team mate Cian Lynch.

Laois made their reply via a Patrick Purcell point but once again Gillane and Lynch accounted for Limerick’s reply with a brace of scores to push the lead out to 0-06 to 0-03.

Gillane was again involved in the build up to the game’s only goal when he offloaded to Gearoid Hegarty who made no mistake with a fine finish to push Limerick in to a five point lead 1-7 to 0-5.

Limerick rattled off five more points compared to the visitors two scores before the interval to have a healthy half time lead of 1-12 to 0-7.

Four second half points form Ross King helped Laois to narrow the gap but again Limerick seemed to be able to turn up the intensity when required to stay that little bit ahead of the visitors with Browne, Morrissey and Barry O’Connell all adding points.

Limerick then took the game by the scruff of the neck accounting for five of the next six points and in the process, effectively ending any hopes Laois might have harboured of  comeback.

As the clock ticked down towards the end of the game, Limerick held a comfortable 1-20 to 0-12 point lead.

Ross King, Patrick Purcell and keeper Enda Rowland added further scores for Laois but Limerick finished strongly with Reidy, Gillane and Browne all pointing to ensure John Kiely’s side got off to winning start.

The win sees Limerick in second place albeit after only one game but with Offaly’s surprise victory over Dublin on Saturday night at Croke Park, it puts that little bit more pressure on the visit to Tullamore next Sunday.

John Kiely will undoubtedly be happy with the result on Sunday but will also know that improvement will be required if his side are to account for an improving Offaly outfit in round two next weekend.

 Nicky Quaid; Sean Finn, Seamus Hickey, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Dan Morrissey, Paddy O’Loughlin; Paul Browne, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, Barry O’Connell; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Gearoid Hegarty.

Subs: Colin Ryan for O’Connell (46 mins), Barry Murphy for Hegarty (46 mins), David Reidy for Flanagan (53 mins).

Limerick Scorers: Aaron Gillane 0-11 (6fs, 165), David Reidy, Tom Morrissey, Paul Browne 0-3 each, Gearoid Hegarty 1-0, Cian Lynch, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-2 each, Barry O’Connell 0-1.

Enda Rowland; Lee Cleere, Leigh Bergin, Padraig Lawlor; Jack Kelly, Matthew Whelan, Eric Killeen; Paddy Purcell, James Ryan; Ben Conroy, Sean Downey, Cian Taylor; Ross King, Neil Foyle, Paddy McCane.

Subs: Donncha Hartnett for Cleere (21 mins, inj), Colm Stapleton for Kelly (HT), Aidan Corby for Downey (51 mins), Stephen Bergin for Taylor (58 mins).

LaoisScorers: Ross King 0-11 (7fs, 265s), Paddy Purcell, Enda Rowland (2fs) 0-2 each, Cian Taylor, Aidan Corby, Willie Dunphy 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Colum Cunning (Antrim).