Preview | Limerick look to get their promotion hopes back on track as they face off against Laois

Following defeat to Westmeath, Billy Lee’s Limerick side look to give themselves a chance of promotion as they travel to Laois on Saturday.

Limerick’s promotion hopes look to be in the balance as Billy Lee’s side face a Laois side who lie just a behind them in the Division 3 table.

Limerick most recently suffered defeat to Westmeath where a poor second half from the hosts saw the game slip from their fingers as they were outscored 1-7 to 0-1 in the second half.

The result saw the Shannonsiders fall down the table to fourth with both Antrim and Louth on seven points and Westmeath on six, the same as Limerick.

Laois are coming into this game off the back of a victory in their last outing against Wicklow. The men in the Blue and white comprehensively saw off Wicklow with a comfortable score line of 0-8 to 1-17 in their favour.

The Limerick and Laois last faced off in the football league in 2018, Laois ran out as worthy winners on the day with a score line of 2-12 to 0-9. Other than that game, Limerick and Laois is a rare fixture with their previous meeting to that coming back in 2005.

2022 League Results So far

Limerick

Rd1: bt Longford 4-9 to 1-11

Rd2: bt Antrim 2-9 to 0-11

Rd3: lost to Louth 1-12 to 1-14

Rd4: bt Wicklow 1-13 to 1-9

Rd5: lost to Westmeath 1-12 to 1-6

Laois

Rd1: bt Louth 3-9 to 1-10

Rd2: lost to Westmeath 2-11 to 0-11

Rd3: drew to Antrim 1-18 to 1-18

Rd4: lost to Fermanagh 3-15 to 3-9

Rd5: bt Wicklow 0-8 to 1-17

With Limerick currently sitting in fourth in the table, their game against Laois is a must win if they have any hope of promotion this season. A win would move them to eight points in the table, three clear of this weekend’s opponents with a game to play.

However, a loss would allow Laois to leapfrog the early pace setters.

Both teams will be buoyed by the fact that table toppers Louth and Antrim meet this weekend while Westmeath will also face the Saffrons in the final round.

Laois will also be looking over their shoulder as a win for Longford at the weekend will pull them into relegation danger should they fail to pick up a win on Saturday evening.

Limerick are also unsure of their Division 3 status for next season but do have their fate in their own hands in that regard with one win from the final two enough to stay up.

Yet, after a blistering start, Lee and co will be keen to bring the promotion battle down to the final day where they host Fermanagh.

But first, Laois on Saturday.

Laois host Limerick in O’Moore Park on Saturday the 19th of March at 7pm.