Youthful Limerick put on dominant Antrim display to kick off Allianz League

Dan Morrissey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearóid Hegarty all started in what was a youthful Limerick side, with David Reidy deployed at centre-back.

John Kiely’s Limerick got their 2024 Allianz league campaign off to the perfect start, as they blew Antrim out of the water in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday, winning 1-36 : 1-09.

Dan Morrissey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearóid Hegarty all started in what was a youthful Limerick side, with David Reidy deployed at centre-back.

The sides exchanged blows early on, with Adam English and Shane O’Brien getting off the mark for the Shannonsiders. The pair were part of an exciting full-forward line with Donnacha Ó Dálaigh which contributed a massive 1-22 of Limerick’s 1-36 tally on the day.

A Fred McCurry goal would see Antrim take the lead, but Limerick would be back on level terms in no time, and they started to flex their muscles as half-time approached, English, Ó Dálaigh and Cathal O’Neill all landing points.

Kiely’s men went into the break with a six point advantage, posting 0-16 in response to Antrim’s 1-07.

Kilmallock’s O’Brien raised Limerick’s first green flag of the day in the opening minute of the second half, setting the tone for what would be a dominant Treaty period.

The North side would manage just two points in the second half, compared to the Shannonsider’s 1-20, with O’Brien and Ó Dálaigh really coming to the fore.

The nature of the tie meant Kiely had an opportunity to hand League debuts to a number of players, with Ethan Hurley, Joe Fitzgerald, Paddy O’Donovan and Emmet McEvoy all making debuts.

A routine victory for Limerick, who now look ahead to Saturday’s clash with Westmeath in Mullingar, who themselves lost out to Galway in the opening round.

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