Limerick 2-6 Antrim 0-9
Limerick rubbished their underdogs tag to book a place in Round 2 of the SFC Qualifiers, with a hard-earned, three-point win over the hosts in front of a small crowd at Corrigan Park, Belfast this afternoon.
The Shannonsiders claimed their first win since their final round robin game of the 2015 Allianz League with a strong defensive display, coming under big pressure from the Antrim attack in the closing minutes.
Both sides were wasteful over the contest, with Limerick firing nine wides, and Antrim seven, in a game where the visitors led by 2-1 to 0-2 after eight minutes.
However, both sides struggled for scores, with Limerick only adding one more point before the break, but they were more clinical on the restart, as Antrim struggled for scores.
Antrim began brightly with points from Ryan Murray and Kevin Niblock in the opening two minutes.
However, Limerick responded well with Sean McSweeney opening their account with a point from a placed ball a minute later, before the visitors were hungry for goals.
Limerick continued to pile on pressure, and rattled the Antrim net for the first time after six minutes.
Seanie Buckley delivered a long ball in, which the Antrim defence failed to control and the ball fell to Ian Ryan who gave Chris Kerr no chance in the Saffrons goalmouth.
1-1 to 0-2 ahead, Limerick looked goal and they extended their lead in the ninth minute, after McSweeney converted a penalty, following a foul on Daragh Treacy.
McSweeney’s spot-kick handed Limerick a five-point lead, but his side only added one more point before the break, as Antrim outscored their opponents by four points to one over the remainder of the half.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Patrick McBride on target to cut the gap to three points, before an Ian Ryan score ensured a 2-2 to 0-4 score-line at the end of the opening quarter.
Antrim were strongest before the break and added two points including a Sean Burke score in the 28th minute.
Defences came to the fore before the interval, with neither side producing a score, as Limerick held a 2-2 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Both sides were guilty of wides early in the second half, with Ian Ryan firing wide and Michael McCann misfiring from a free.
Corner-back Stephen Cahill broke the dead-lock with an excellent point in the 44th minute.
An Ian Ryan score ensured a 2-4 to 0-6 lead, but Antrim came strongly at their opponents in the final quarter.
Ryan Murray and substitute Tomas McCann added scores, with Sean McSweeney keeping Limerick on top from placed balls.
The visitors had a huge performance from goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan in the second half.
O’Sullivan pulled off a superb save from Ryan Murray after 64 minutes, and two quick saves after.
Kevin Niblock fired Antrim’s third point of the half from a free in injury-time to cut the gap to two points, but McSweeney ensured a three-point victory with a pointed free deep into injury-time.
SCORERS: Limerick: Sean McSweeney 1-3 (1-0pen, 3f); Ian Ryan 1-2 (1f); Stephen Cahill 0-1. Antrim: Ryan Murray (1f), Kevin Niblock (1f), Patrick McBride 0-2 each; Matthew Fitzpatrick, Sean Burke, Tomas McCann (1f) 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: D O’Sullivan; J McCarthy, P Browne, S Cahill; B Fanning, S O’Dea, P Ranahan; D Treacy, T Childs; G Noonan, P Nash, S Buckley; S McSweeney, I Ryan, H Bourke. Subs: E Hogan for H Bourke (49); P Hannon for P Nash (63); I Corbett for T Childs (65).
ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O’Boyle, R Johnson, P Gallagher; J Laverty, J Crozier, M Sweeney; S McVeigh, M McCann; P McBride, M Fitzpatrick, K Niblock; R Murray, N McKeever, S Burke. Subs: M Johnson for S McVeigh (20); D McAlesse for J Laverty (29); P McAleer for R Johnson (HT); C Murray for P Gallagher (HT); T McCann for N McKeever (55); J Carron for S Burke (65).
REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
