Three from three as Limerick ease beyond Dublin at Croke Park

Dublin 1-18
Limerick 3-30

By Tom Clancy in Croke Park

LimerickIt maintains extends Limerick’s winning streak to 10 at Croke Park, and they’ve now won 12 from 13 games under John Kiely at GAA headquarters. David Reidy was listed to start, but was instead replaced by Tom Morrissey. However, it was Crecora Manister star Cathal O’Neill who operated at centre-half back. The headline news was the return of Kyle Hayes, but there was outings too for Nickie Quaid and Mike Casey, both o

The visitors stamped their mark on this contest as early as 13 seconds, when Donnacha Ó Dálaigh was on hand to finish a fine move from throw-in which saw Gearoid Hegarty break the line before passing to the Monaleen man.

Indeed, Limerick would score 1-3 to just a point in the opening exchanges. Adam English and Tom Morrissey looked sharp, but the Dubs replied. There was scores from Ronan Hayes and Conor Burke. They could have levelled it Sean Currie drew a fine save from Nickie Quaid on 20 minutes, with Burke wasting the 65.

The home side would get the move to within a goal, 1-8 to 0-8 when they got three in a row. Danny Sutcliffe, Conor Donohue and Conor Burke all on target in the space of four minutes.

But Limerick stepped on the gas late in the half. Kiely’s men scored 1-3 to just 0-2 from Dublin with Hegarty again the provider to Tom Morrissey, who arrowed to the net from an acute angle. The score at half-time, Dublin 0-11 Limerick 2-13, and four wides compared to nine.

Ó Dálaigh followed two Hegarty points with a goal early in the second half, meaning Limerick moved 13 clear. Sean Currie restored some capital pride when he drilled low beyond Quaid for a green flag.

Limerick coasted to victory as points from English, Hegarty, Morrissey and Fergal O’Connor contributed to a fine win. Dublin provided little resistance as they showed they are clearly a step or two behind the Treaty.

The magic 30-point mark was reached in stoppage time as Diarmaid Byrnes landed a trademark free from his own half.

Next up is a meeting with Tipperary, with Galway also set to come to the TUS Gaelic Grounds in March.

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65); Cian O’Sullivan 0-5 (0-3 frees); Sean Currie 1-0; Danny Sutcliffe 0-3; Conor Burke 0-2; Ronan Hayes 0-1; Conor Donohue 0-1; Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: Adam English 0-8 (0-3 frees); Donnacha O’Dálaigh 2-1; Tom Morrissey 1-4; Gearoid Hegarty 0-5; Cathal O’Neill 0-4; Micheál Houlihan 0-2; Diarmuid Byrnes 0-2 (0-1 free); Shane O’Brien 0-1; Kyle Hayes 0-1; Fergal O’Connor 0-1; Barry Murphy 0-1.


Dublin: Seán Brennan; James Madden, Paddy Smyth, John Bellew; Conor Donohoe, Chris Crummey, Daire Gray; Conor Burke, Seán Gallagher; Ronan Hayes, Donal Burke, Brian Hayes; Danny Sutcliffe, Cian O’Sullivan, Sean Currie.

Subs: Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing for B Hayes (48), Darragh Power for Gallaher (52), Paul Crummey for D Burke (54); Donal Leavy for Jack

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Fergal O’Connor, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Cathal O’Neill, Kyle Hayes; William O’Donoghue (C), Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Conor Boylan; Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Shane O’Brien, Adam English.

Subs: Oisin O’Reilly for Adam English (blood – 35 mins – half-time); Seamus Flanagan for O’Brien (43); Micheál Houlihan for Boylan, Barry Murphy for O’Donoghue, Dan Morrissey for Casey (all 57); Aaron Costello for Nash (66).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).