Down out of their depth as Limerick win first points

Limerick 4-25 Down 1-9

In a game which both sides went into pointless after three matches, Limerick comfortably beat a spirited, but clearly inferior Down side without ever suggesting that a new dawn under coach Joe McKenna had begun.

With their championship game against Tipperary just nine weeks away, the jury is still out on whether Limerick will be good enough for the Premier County at the Gaelic Grounds on May 15, because this game told them nothing.

Following their excellent performance against Tipperary and given the internal problems Limerick have had, Down came south confident they could get something from the game. But, in truth, they were completely out of their depth.

There was never a hint of an upset. Limerick needed a good start to settle the nerves, and wasted little time in getting it. Alan O’Connor had the sliothar in the Down net after three minutes and the attendance of less than 300 must have anticipated the floodgates opening.

That they didn’t was down to the excellence of Down goalkeeper Graham Clarke and full back Stephen Murray, who defied the best Limerick had to offer particularly in the opening half.

While Limerick dominated matters from the throw in, the scores didn't come as frequently as they have liked, and at the end of the first quarter, they could only manage a 1-3 to 0-1 lead. Down might have had a goal themselves in the 12th minute when Jonathan McCusker put Martin Coulter through, but there was no power in the latter’s shot and Limerick ‘keeper Ger O’Connell had little difficulty in saving from 12 metres out.

The scoring improved for Limerick over the next seven minutes as their double their tally to 2-6 - Sean O’Connor claiming the goal - and it was very much a case of how much the home side would win by.

All credit to the northerners, however. They continued to press forward and three points in a row gave them some hope. However the gap in standards was obvious and Limerick’s greater stickwork saw them hit over five points without reply, which helped them to an interval lead of 2-11 to 0-4.

A Jonathan McCusker goal nine minutes into the second-half boosted the Down spirits. But it was to no avail, as the Limerick forwards went on a scoring spree - knocking over a slew of points and two further goals to run out the easiest of winners.

It would be unfair to pick out any Limerick player who performed well as it wouldn’t be hard for them, but Niall Moran with seven points from play, Sean and Alan O'Connor and Pat Tobin with a goal each, contributed the bulk of their side’s scores.

For a gutsy Down side, you couldn't fault Clarke, Murray, Gary Savage, and Jonathan McCusker for effort.

Scorers: Limerick: N. Moran 0-7; S. O'Connor 1-3; A. O'Connor, P. Tobin 1-2 each; P. Hughes 1-0 (og); S. Sheehan, J. O'Brien 0-2 each; D. Ryan, M. Cahill, D. O'Grady, JP Sheehan, P. O'Dwyer, M. Foley, K. O'Dwyer 0-1 each. Down: J. McCusker 1-1; A. Savage, S. Wilson (0-1 free) 0-2 each; M. Coulter (free), G. Johnson, S. Clarke, G. Savage 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: G. O'Connell; D. Reale, TJ Ryan, M. Foley; P. O'Dwyer, O. Moran, G. Greay; P. O'Grady, D. O'Grady; A. O'Connor, J. O'Brien, N. Moran; D. Ryan, S. O'Connor, D. Sheehan. Subs; M. Cahill for TJ Ryan; P. Tobin for D. Ryan; K. O'Dwyer for A. O'Connor; P. Cahill for P. O'Grady; JP Sheehan for S. O'Connor; D. Breen for Geary (yellow carded).

DOWN: G. Clarke; l. Clarke, S. Murray, P. Hughes; C. Coulter, G. Clarke, P. Monan; S. Wilson, A. Savage; G Johnson, G. Savage, S. Clarke; J. McCusker, M. Coulter, E. Clarke. A. Bell for Monan; J. O'Doherty for C. Coulter; E. TRainor for S. Clarke; C. Bandiff for E. Clarke.

Ref: P. Greene (Galway).