THE Limerick minor footballers defeated Fermanagh on a final scoreline of 3-11 to 0-08 in All-Ireland minor football Tier Three championship preliminary quarter final at the Connacht GAA Centre on saturday afternoon.
Limerick produced a strong second half performance where they outscored their opponents 2-10 to 0-02 which ultimately proved to be the difference.
It was Fermanagh who started brightly after ten minutes with Ryan Hannigan and Daniel McGovern on two occasions putting them 0-03 to 0-00 ahead.
Limerick began to get bodies behind the ball and frustrate Fermanagh. Limerick’s accuracy in front of goal was starting to let them down between the 10th and 15th where the Shannonsiders had three shots that dropped short.
Ryan Hannigan curled over a free from a tight angle to put Fermanagh 0-4 ahead on 16 minutes.
Limerick issued the perfect response when midfielder Cian Costello made a powerful run down through the centre of the Fermanagh defence and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner to raise the first green flag of the day.
Gerard O’Connor’s side conceded two points from turnovers where Calum MacInnes and Odhran McGovern were on target to push Fermanagh three points ahead once again.
Rian McNamara landed a point from a difficult angle before half-time. Limerick trailed 1-01 to 0-06 at the break.
On 34 minutes a Shane Dolan free left the minimum between the sides. Daniel O’Connell played a clever handpass to Cian Costello on 38 minutes and Costello made no mistake for the second time to have Limerick leading 2-02 to 0-06.
On 41 minutes substitute Robbie Widger was fouled inside the small square and a penalty was awarded. Shane Dolan stepped up but his shot hit the post.
O’Connor’s charges landed the next six points in a eight minute period through Robbie Widger, Rian McNamara, Shane Dolan and Michael Mulcahy.
On 52 minutes, Rory Mullins pounced on a misplaced kickout and Mullins slotted the ball into the back of the Fermanagh net to have Limerick leading 3-09 – 0-6.
Limerick looked a different side in the second half with their intensity in the tackle and limited Fermanagh to two points in the second half. The Shannonsiders made use of the strong use of the breeze in the Connacht centre of excellence.
Substitute Evan O’Connor hit two points late on as Limerick hung on for 12 point victory and now advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Scorers:
LIMERICK: Cian Costello 2-0, Rory Mullins 1-0, Shane Dolan (0-4, 0-2 frees), Rian McNamara 0-3, Evan O’Connor (0-2), Robbie Widger and Michael Mulcahy 0-1 each.
FERMANAGH: Daniel McGovern 0-2, , Ryan Hannigan (0-2, 0-1 free), Dan O’Connor (0-1 free), Daire Chapman (0-1 free), Calum MacInnes and Odhran McGovern 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: Stephen Kearney (St Senan’s), Danny McCarthy (Father Caseys), Donal Dawson (Ahane), Sean Hanley (Oola), Harry McDermott (Monaleen), Daniel O’Connell (Mungret St. Paul’s), Conor Ó Longaigh (Mungret St. Paul’s), Cian Costelleo (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Charlie Casey (Monaleen), Shane Dolan (Monaleen), Rory Mullins (Mungret St. Paul’s), Ben Ryan (Croom), Rian McNamara (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Eoghan Fitzgerald (Galtee Gaels), Daniel Murphy (Ballylanders).
Subs: Michael Mulcahy (St Senans) for Ó Longaigh (20 minutes), Shane O’Dea (Ballylanders) for Ryan (half-time), Robbie Widger (Monaleen) for Charlie Casey (40 minutes), Evan O’Connor (Father Caseys) for Fitzgerald (53 minutes), Gavin Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) for Hanley (53 minutes).
FERMANAGH: Daire Treacy, Ryan McCann, James Tierney, Taidgh O’Brien, Daithi Mohan, Conor Casey, Alex McCaffrey, Dan O’Connor, Calum MacInnes, Odhran McGovern, Conall Rasdale, Ryan Hannigan, Michael Duffy, Daniel McGovern, Nathan Beattie.
SUBS: Daire Chapman for Daniel McGovern (half-time), Tomas Cathcart for Odhran McGovern (43 minutes).
Referee: Aaron Clogher