Clinical Naughton helps lead Limerick through a messy affair to victory over Carlow

Both sides as well as the match officials themselves seemed to get confused: at times, players struggled with three defenders and forwards and where they were supposed to be.

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025 - 20:37

Kieran Murphy

Allianz Football League Division 4: Carlow 0-13 Limerick 1-17

Impressive Limerick were pillar-to-post winners of this National Football League Division 4 tie at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

It was a messy first half where frees were awarded and others not. Both sides as well as the match officials themselves seemed to get confused: at times, players struggled with three defenders and forwards and where they were supposed to be.

In that opening half, Carlow’s Paddy Regan carried the ball into the Limerick half leaving two defenders behind him. Not spotted by the match officials, the defender got away with it. In contrast, the Limerick full-back, Colm McSweeney, twice strayed about two metres into the Carlow half with only two defenders behind him. He was penalised.

Conor Crowley converted the brace of 13m frees. With the crowd still buzzing, the referee pinged Carlow for not leaving three forwards in their own half. It looked like an error with the match officials mixing up the 65-metre line for the half-way mark.

Yet when the half-time whistle blew, Limerick’s James Naughton had scored four frees and goalkeeper, Josh Ryan, registered a two-point free. Carlow were very much in the game with the Treaty County leading 0-7 to 0-6 at the change of ends.

Limerick made their move for victory as early as the 39th minute when Naughton was on the end of a passing movement. From close range he made no mistake. Emmet Rigter added a point and while Carlow’s best player, John Murphy, did cancel that score out with a point, Limerick were in control.

They turned the screw. The players who came into the action did their job and with Danny Neville, Tadgh O’Siochru and Peter Nash all raising white flags. The visitors were now in complete control.

The home side created one goal chance but Conor Crowley pulled his shot right and wide. Paddy McDonnell was unlucky not to find the Limerick net with one of his shots taking a wicked deflection. His two points from play were the highlight of the night for the home side. It will have been a short journey home for the winners while a long week ahead is facing the home side.

Scorers for Carlow: C Crowley (fs), P McDonnell, C Doyle (1f), C Moran 0-2 each, I Atkinson, K Murphy, J Murphy, A Amond, C Lomax 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: J Naughton 1-6 (6fs), J Ryan 0-4 (1-2pf, 1-2p), D O’Hagan 0-2 (1f), E Rigter, A Meade, P Nash, T O’Siochru, D Neville 0-1 each

CARLOW: J Furey; P Regan, M Furey, C Byrne; S Clarke, C Moran, J Murphy; I Atkinson, L Brennan; C Doyle, L Walker, P McDonnell; A Amond, C Crowley, K Murphy.

Subs: N Hickey for Walker (h/t), K Nolan for J Murphy (53), R Dunphy for K Murphy (61), C Lomax for Crowley (65), J Egan for Amond (67).

LIMERICK: J Ryan; C Woulfe, C McSweeney, M McCarthy; B Coleman, I Corbett, T McCarthy; D O’Hagan, P Maher; A Meade, J Naughton, C Fahy; D O’Siochru, E Rigter, K Ryan.

Referee: N Quinn (Clare)