Limerick eventually see off London to kick-off Tailteann campaign on right note

Irish Examiner

10-05-2025

Tailteann Cup: Limerick 0-25 (0-5-20) London 1-15 (1-1-13)
A fine spread of scoring talent and perhaps the greater team cohesion saw an experienced Limerick eventually wrestle free of London to claim two points in their Tailteann Cup Group Three opener.
The victory, which saw Limerick lead from the 17th minute to full-time, gives Treaty a great platform ahead of meetings against Antrim and Westmeath.
Despite the victory, Jimmy Lee will know that his side were far too open, and far too easy to penetrate as they got back to winning ways following their loss to Cork last month.
The home side moved this game to Newcastle West, and despite the tight confines on a tremendous playing surface, both sides found ample opportunity for scores.
While goals were the area of choice during a successful league campaign, the Treaty kicked five two-pointers during the contest as they spread the shooting.
For London, a defeat to Roscommon last month wasn't short of positives, but here they struggled on their own kick out and probably needed to be much sharper in front of the posts.
By half-time, it was a two-point game, after there was nine-points between them earlier in the piece.
A goal from Ruairi Rafferty put this game back into a contest but crucial two-pointers from Barry Coleman and Iain Corbett helped Limerick back into control that they wouldn't relinquish.
Among their ten different scorers were youngsters Darragh O'Hagan and Emmet Rigter, both kicking from distance in the first half, with Ciaran Diver, Kristian Healy and then Daniel Clarke keeping London in touch.
The Limerick spurt moved them 0-14 to 0-5 clear, with that Rigter score, Danny Neville and James Naughton on target. It was a fine spell of dominance but it quickly changed.
Liam Gallagher (45), Shay Rafter, two white flags before a goal from Ruairí Rafferty gave Michael Maher's men real believe heading for the dressing room.
But Limerick with their finely tuned players who've served them so well shut out the London surge in the third quarter. Coleman, from the top of the arc and then a routine Peter Nash free pushed them clear. There was nine in it again when Corbett landed from range.
London did look for a goal, something that would have been necessary.
However, poor decision making, mistimed passing or too powerful a shot from Shay Rafter meat that it never arrived. The Tara clubman kicked a couple of their scores in the second half but they struggled to get much closer.
Late on Josh Ryan landed a free from the deck, nearing 50 meters from goal before a consolation Matt Moynihan two-pointer concluded the scoring for London.
The Treaty travel to Antrim next weekend, while London entertain Westmeath.
Scorers for Limerick: E Rigter 0-4 (1 tpf); J Naughton 0-4; P Nash 0-3 (1f); D O'Hagan 0-3 (1tp); I Corbett 0-3 (1tp); D Neville 0-2; B Coleman 0-2 (1tp); J Ryan 0-2 (1tpf); T Childs 0-1; Rory O'Brien 0-1.
Scorers for London: S Rafter 0-5 (1 free); C Diver 0-4 (0-1 frees); R Rafferty 1-0; M Moynihan 0-2 (1tp) L Gallagher 0-1 (45); D Clarke 0-1; K Healy 0-1; J Obahor 0-1.
Limerick: J Ryan; J Hassett, D O'Doherty, C McSweeney; M McCarthy, I Corbett, T Ó Siochrú; T Childs, D O'Hagan; P Maher, E Rigter, C Fahy (C); D Neville, James Naughton, Peter Nash.
Subs: B Coleman for McSweeney (half-time); D Murray for Maher (44); B Childs for Rigter (54); R O'Brien for Neville (57); K Ryan for Corbett (65);
London: A Walsh; D Rooney, S Taylor, C McCarrick; E Walsh (C), M Moynahan, C Gallagher; T Barry, J Obahor; L Gallagher, D Clarke, K Healy; R Rafferty, S Rafter, C Diver.
Subs: C Donohue for Barry (52); F Eastwood for Walsh (60); N McElwaine for Gallagher (61); M O'Reilly for Clarke (66); A McLaughlin for Obahor (68).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)