Limerick relegated despite comeback victory over Fermanagh
James Naughton scored 1-2 for Limerick as they fought back to beat Fermanagh. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Rory O’Brien’s stoppage time two pointer was enough for Limerick to come from eleven points down to take a second victory of the campaign.
It wasn’t, however, enough to keep Limerick in the third tier as Clare’s failed attempt to win in Sligo meant five points sends the Treaty back to the basement division. Had the Banner snatched a late winner, it would have preserved Jimmy Lee’s men in this division.
It is a change of division for the sixth time in just seven seasons, with three promotions and three relegations in that time. Injuries have played their part and when Limerick got their strongest available team on the pitch this Sunday afternoon, they showed how good a side they can be.
For Fermanagh, there are crumbs for them, as they head down also. They were already certain to be dropping but Declan Bonner’s men showed a real amount of quality as they forged a match winning position, only for the orange flag to hurt them in the second half.
Two goals, one late in the first half, from James Naughton, the other from sub Tony McCarthy, had a slice of fortune about them but they were major moves in turning the tide in this clash.
A breeze straight down the pitch in Rathkeale helped propel the Ulster side to an eleven-point advantage, 0-14 to 0-3 approaching half-time. However, the mid-judgement from keeper Sean McNally saw Naughton’s effort drop into the top corner to bolster the Limerick hopes.
Prior to that OisÃn Kelm, Conor McGee and Conor Love had propelled Fermanagh in front. Two quick-fire efforts from outside the arc from Darragh McGurn were also key but there was a sense that the conditions were a large reason why the Shannonsiders were trailing.
Naughton (free) started the second half, before Dany Neville arrowed over.
Then, Eliah Riordan, the find of the league for Lee, kicked five points. A tight angle for a white flag, before two orange flags. One from the left, one from the right to cut the gap to just two. Scoring that any forward would dream of.
Tony McCarthy’s green flag nine minutes from time saw him drill to home to level. Neville pushed Limerick ahead but back Ernesiders came back to level.
Two late points from Shane Cassidy looked to change the destination of the result only for Neville to fetch a loose ball, feed O’Brien who curled over at the top of the arc.
Joyous scenes at the whistle were short lived, as news filtered through from Sligo. That victory for the Yeats County the difference between the sides when the final table was calculated.
Division Four to come, but first a Munster meeting with Cork, next month and than another assault on the Tailteann Cup.
J Naughton 1-2 (2f); E Riordan 0-5 (2x2pt); P Nash 0-3 (f, 1x2pt); T McCarthy 1-0; R O’Brien 0-2 (1x2pt); D Neville 0-2; S Cross 0-1.
D McGurn (2 2pt), C Love (1f) 0-4 each; G Jones 0-3; C Corrigan, S Cassidy (1f) 0-2 each; O Kelm, R McCaffrey, D McCusker, S McNally (‘45), S McGullion 0-1 each.
J Alfred; S Kilbridge, C McSweeney, D Buckley; C Woulfe, K Ryan, M McCarthy; E O’Riordan, B Coleman; P Maher, D Neville, C Fahy; S Cross, J Naughton, P Nash.
R Childs for Cross (ht); T McCarthy for Woulfe (51 mins); R O’Brien for Fahy (58 mins); J McCarthy for Naughton (63 mins);
S McNally; J Cassidy, O Smyth, L Flanagan; S McGullion, R McCaffrey, J Largo Elis; C McGee, S McGullion; D McCusker, D McGurn, C Corrigan; C Love, G Jones, O Kelm.
J Largo Elis for O Kelm (45 mins); S Cassidy for Garvan Jones (53 mins); A Kelm for Conor McGee (58 mins); C O’Brien for Conor Love (68 mins)Â
James Molloy (Galway).
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