Sligo a bridge too far for Limerick as Tailteann dream ends

Sligo 2-20
Limerick 0-9

By Tom Clancy in Markievicz Park

Limerick’s hopes of a trip to Croke Park were wiped away by a stellar Sligo, and with it brought the end to a mixed season for the county’s Gaelic Football side.

After losing all seven league games in the Spring, championship losses to Cork and Down did little to help the negative mood surrounding the team. However, recent victories over Offaly, London and Tipperary meant there was renewed optimism.

But, a slicker, more efficient and sharper looking home side were too strong for Jimmy Lee’s men.
Played before a crowd of 2,238 at the picturesque Markievicz Park, this game was as good as over by half-time and second half goals from Lee Deignan and Patrick O’Connor sealed the result for Tony McEntee’s men. Despite a decent start with a fine outside-of-the-boot point from Iain Corbett – Limerick struggled in the opening quarter. Eight unanswered points from the home side gave those in green a huge challenge to overcome.

Seán Carrabine and Cian Lally were prominent, with the former kicking five first half points, including two from play and a mark. There was also cutting runs from Niall Murphy, Nathan Mullen and Canice Mulligan.

Limerick ended 20 minutes without a when Peter Nash converted a free after Danny Neville was fouled. Tommie Childs was next onto the scoresheet but the openings were limited for Jimmy Lee’s men.

There was then a run of 0-5 to 0-1 to pull the Yeats County clear. Darragh Cummins started it with Josh Ryan’s fine free the only reprieve for Limerick. 0-13 to 0-5 in arrears at half-time, Limerick needed to start the second-half brightly.

Four wides and a point from Josh Ryan (45) showed the intent for Limerick, but the concession of the goal, to Lee Deignan all-but ended this contest. He finished off a neat Alan McLaughlin pass to put 10 points between the sides after 45 minutes.

Points from Darragh Cummins and McLaughlin soon after added further woe.

Limerick had further points from Rob Childs, Nash (free) and Sean O’Dea but O’Connor’s goal late on added to the Sligo margin.

Attention returns to club action, which starts later this month, while Division Four will be the focus at inter-county level in 2025.

Scorers for Sligo: Seán Carrabine 0-7 (0-1 mark; 0-3 frees); Lee Deignan 1-1; Patrick O’Connor 1-0; Niall Murphy 0-3 (0-1 ’45, 0-1 free); Cian Lally 0-3; Darragh Cummins 0-2; Alan McLaughlin 0-2; Nathan Mullen 0-1; Canice Mulligan 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: Peter Nash 0-2 (0-2 frees); Josh Ryan 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 ‘45); Iain Corbett 0-1; Tommie Childs 0-1; Cillian Fahy 0-1; Rob Childs 0-1.

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Lee Deignan, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLaughlin, Seán Carrabine; Mikey Gordon, Patrick O’Connor, Niall Murphy.

Subs: Jack Lavin for Cox (half-time); Mark Walsh for Gordon (53); Donal Conlon for Lally (55); Eoghan Smith for Cummins (59); Pat Spillane for McLaughlin (64).

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Cormac Woulfe, Seán O’Dea, Paul Maher; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Tony McCarthy; Tommy Childs, Iain Corbett (C); Emmet Rigter, James Naughton, Cathal Downes; Danny Neville, Rob Childs, Peter Nash.

Subs: Jim Liston for McCarthy (half-time), Bryan Nix for Naughton (46); Shane Costelloe for Downes (49); Brian Ahern for R Childs (61); Andrew Meade for Rigter (67)

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).