Win over Sligo sees Limerick win Division 4 and promotion

Billy Lee’s Limerick senior footballers will be plying their trade in the Allianz League Division 3 following their 1-16 to 1-14 win over Sligo.

The victory gives Limerick the Division 4 title but much more importantly gives them promotion to the third tier for the first time since 2016.

Limerick were by far the better side in the opening 35 minutes but were pegged back in the final quarter.

Iain Corbett opened the scoring after just two minutes after he powered through on goal, only to see his shot fly over the bar.

Limerick keeper Donal O’Sullivan then had to be alive to danger when he made a fine close range stop from Sligo midfielder Paul Kilcoyne.

Sean McSweeney added a second point for Limerick before Sean Carrabine got Sligo on the board after seven minutes.

Limerick, aided by a strong first half breeze, began to dominate in the lead up to the first water break and two Hugh Bourke scores saw them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead at the stoppage.

The trend continued after the water break with Peter Nash and Corbett stretching the lead to five.

Then Limerick finally got the goal that they deserved when Bourke rounded Eamonn Kilgannon and finished low into the corner.

Two Red Og Murphy points saw Sligo respond but McSweeney and Killian Ryan saw Limerick eight ahead in the lead up to half time.

A fisted Cillian Fahy effort stretched it to nine, however, Paddy O’Connor’s late point saw Sligo 1-9 to 0-4 down at the break.

Sligo were a much better side in the second half but Limerick kept them at bay for large periods with Ryan, Darragh Treacy and Bourke keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

A second Treacy point saw Limerick 1-13 to 0-7 ahead with 57 minutes on the clock but then came the Sligo comeback.

Three points in a row were followed by a Pat Hughes goal and from nowhere there was just three between the sides.

Limerick settled with a Cian Sheehan point and two placed balls from keeper O’Sullivan saw Limerick six clear again.

Sligo brought that lead back to two once more deep into added time but Limerick held on for a memorable victory.

Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan; Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Paul Maher; Tony McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommy Griffin; Killian Ryan, Hugh Bourke, Sean McSweeney; Adrian Enright, Sean McSweeney, Peter Nash.

Subs: Michael Donovan for Fanning (34 mins), Tommie Childs for Enright (h-t), Bob Childs for Nash (50 mins), Davy Lyons for Griffin (58 mins), Cian Sheehan for McSweeney (66 mins).

Limerick Scorers – Hugh Bourke 1-3 (2f), Sean McSweeney, Killian Ryan, Iain Corbett Darragh Treacy and Donal O’Sullivan (1f, ’45) 0-2 each, Peter Nash, Cillian Fahy and Cian Sheehan 0-1 each.