Limerick footballers earn promotion after Waterford blown away in Mick Neville Park

Limerick’s senior footballers are back in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League at the first attempt following a 4-24 to 1-17 victory over Waterford in Rathkeale.

A stunning 4-12 from James Naughton saw Limerick blast a Waterford side that led early on by five points.

However, Limerick stuck to their task and some high quality, free-flowing football saw Jimmy Lee’s side earn a 16-point winning margin.

Limerick will now play Wexford in the Division 4 League Final at Croke Park this coming Saturday and that game is set for a 5pm throw-in.

Tholom Guiry opened the scoring for Waterford in the sixth minute but 60 seconds later, Limerick were level after Naughton’s close range finish.

However, two pointers from Dermot Ryan and James Power, as well as a Jason Curry free put the Deise five to the good with 13 minutes on the clock.

Limerick fought back with Naughton to the fore. He nailed the next three scores, while Darragh O’Hagan then put a point between the sides.

A Naughton free levelled the game at 1-6 apiece on 23 minutes and the same man struck again for his second goal to put Limerick in the driving seat and into the lead for the first time.

Two frees stretched Limerick’s lead to five at the break and Lee’s charges into a 2-9 to 1-8 advantage at the break.

It was a demolition job in the second half with Limerick taking full control. Tony McCarthy floated over two efforts from play, before Naughton got in on the act once again with two of his own.

Emmet Rigter also hit the target three times in the second half as Limerick raced away from their opponents.

The game was long over when Naughton got in for his third and fourth goals in an outrageous performance that saw the St Senans man finish with 4-3 from play as Limerick romped to a huge victory.

Scorers – Limerick: James Naughton 4-12 (7f, 1tpf), Emmet Rigter 0-3, Tony McCarthy Darragh O Siochru and Peter Nash (1f) 0-2 each, Paul Maher, Darragh O’Hagan and Bob Childs 0-1 each.

Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney, Fiachra Cotter; Mark McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Darragh O’Hagan, Tommie Childs; Paul Maher, James Naughton, Cillian Fahy; Darragh O Siochru, Emmet Rigter, Andrew Meade.

Subs: Peter Nash for Meade (28), Bob Childs for McCarthy (49), Killian Ryan for Fahy (54), Danny Neville for McCarthy (58), Tag O Siochru for O’Hagan (65), Darragh Murray for Maher (74, blood sub).