Footballers slim promotion hopes ended by Limerick
Carlow's Kevin Murphy lines up a shot as Limerick's Cormac Woulfe attempts to block Photo: Tom Nolan
Allianz Football League Division 4
Limerick 1-17 Carlow 0-13
Carlow’s hopes of getting back into contention for a National Football League Division 4 challenge all but died in this fourth-round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
A highlight, of which there were few, was the feat of winning goal-keeper, Josh Ryan, who registered a two-point free in the opening half and followed up with another two-pointer from play midway through the second.
On the other hand in the opening half, Carlow’s Paddy Regan got away with carrying the ball into the opposition half and leaving only two defenders behind him. Not so lucky was the Limerick full-back, Colm McSweeney, who twice drifted past half-way and was pinged each time.
At the interval, Limerick led 0-7 to 0-6 with James Naughton landing four frees.
They took a giant step for victory early in the second half when the same player netted from close range after a passing movement opened the Carlow defence.
The home side had one goal chance in that fraught second half but Conor Crowley pulled his shot right and wide at the scoreboard end of the ground.
That was at the start of the last quarter as Limerick tightened up their defence and made sure the Carlow attack was never allowed another similar chance.
At the end, Paddy McDonnell scored two good points but it was too-little, too-late for the beleaguered Barrowsiders.
Josh Ryan (0-4 1-2pf, 1-2p); Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney, Mick McCarthy; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Darragh O’Hagan (0-2 1f), Paul Maher; Andrew Meade (0-1), James Naughton (1-6 6fs), Cillian Fahy, Darragh O’Siochru, Emmet Rigter (0-1), Killian Ryan.
Subs: Tadgh O’Siochru (0-1) for O’Siochru (16), Tommie Childs for Maher (temporary 28), Childs for T O’Siochru (31), Peter Nash (0-1) for D O’Siochru (h/t), Danny Neville (0-1) for Maher (61), Robbie Childs for Corbett (65), Rory O’Brien for Meade (68).
Johnny Furey, Paddy Regan, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne, Shane Clarke, Ciaran Moran (0-2), John Murphy (0-1), Ian Atkinson (0-1), Liam Brennan, Conor Doyle (0-2 1f), Lee Walker, Paddy McDonnell (0-2), Aaron Amond (0-1), Conor Crowley (0-2fs), Kevin Murphy (0-1). Subs: Niall Hickey for Walker (h/t), Kyle Nolan for J Murphy (53), Ross Dunphy for K Murphy (61), Cormac Lomax (0-1) for Crowley (65), Josh Egan for Amond (67).
Niall Quinn (Clare)
