Limerick top their Tailteann Cup group after stunning win over Westmeath

Limerick’s senior footballers earned their passage to the Tailteann Cup quarter-final following a 0-19 to 0-18 win over Westmeath at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Jimmy Lee’s men led by two points at the break and then by five with 20 minutes to go but Westmeath fought back with seven points on the trot to lead late on.

Limerick fought back to level again and took the lead after Josh Ryan wandered his way out from goal to fire over a point from 38 metres.

Luke Loughlin levelled with a free for Westmeath but Emmet Rigter popped over the winner for Limerick in added time.

It was a solid performance by Limerick that saw James Naughton score 0-8. Rigter followed with 0-3, while Iain Corbett, Paul Maher, Jason Hassett and Mark McCarthy excelled in defence.

The win gives Limerick a week off next week where the second placed teams from the four groups drawn against the three best third teams and New York.

Scorers – Limerick: James Naughton 0-8 (2f), Emmet Rigter 0-3, Danny Neville 0-2, Paul Maher, Tommie Childs, Peter Nash (1f), Darragh Murray, Bob Childs and Josh Ryan 0-1 each. 

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Jason Hassett, Darren O’Doherty, Mark McCarthy; Paul Maher, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Tommie Childs, Darragh O’Hagan; James Naughton, Emmet Rigter, Cillian Fahy; Peter Nash, Danny Neville, Killian Ryan.

Subs: Darragh Murray for Fahy (47), Rory O’Brien for Maher (56), Bob Childs for T Childs (56), Andrew Meade for Neville (70).