LISTEN: John Ryan reflects on Down loss with Sligo on the horizon

The Limerick ladies’ footballers were defeated 2-9 to 0-8 by Down in Sean Treacey Park in their second game of the Intermediate Football championship yesterday.

The defeat means Limerick now face Sligo in the final group game knowing a loss will put them in relegation danger.

Limerick started brightly in Down on Sunday and trailed by just two points, 1-4 to 0-5 at the break.

However, the home side showed their class in the second period as they eased to a seven-point victory.

Speaking after the game, manager John Ryan discussed his sides first half performance, outlining how the break came at a time when his team were beginning to assert themselves on the Ulster side.

“We had enough chances to win the game. We went in at half time two points down, but it came at the wrong time for us and the right time for them.”

“But they regrouped at half time and came out a different side and we found it really hard to break them down.”

The result in the end was a fair one according to Ryan as Down picked up their first win to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Kildare on Sunday.

“They drove on and we didn’t, and you have to be honest about it. They were the better team.”

Limerick now face Sligo in Kilcoyne Park this Sunday knowing anything, but a win will see them into a relegation play-off with the three other bottom sides from the group stages.

Sligo defeated Down by eighteen points in their opening game but lost their next game against Kildare yesterday with the Leinster side currently topping the group on four points.

Such has been the manner of defeat for Limerick thus far, a win may not be enough on Sunday with each of the other teams already picking up a victory.

As such Ryan is preparing his side to go to Sligo and pick up a victory which will provide his side with momentum at the least should they find themselves in the play-offs.

“We’ve a big week ahead of us now, we have to regroup ahead of the Sligo game. We have to look at how they set up and we’re still mathematically within a shot of avoiding the relegation play-off, but it is looking ominous.”

“there’s a lot of ‘ifs’, ‘ands’ and ‘buts’ but we have to go up on Sunday and take on Sligo. Hopefully get a win and see what happens after that.”

Regardless of their results thus far, Ryan said the effort of his players and backroom team have been exemplary with his side just missing out on the rub of the green.

“Week after week we have them training. We have 26/27 at training most nights. There is a massive commitment there.”“All in all, we have a great set up, but you have to make that count when you cross the white line and unfortunately, we have come up short in games.”

Listen to the interview with Ryan in full below.