Beirne proves too hot to handle
LEITRIM 2-18 LIMERICK 1-9
LEITRIM bagged their first points of the campaign with an impressive performance in Carrick-on-Shannon.
An outstanding display by Keith Beirne, who scored 2-8 of his side’s total, was the highlight of a Leitrim attack that showed no mercy to a porous Limerick defence and led four points to one after 10 minutes.
Beirne’s first goal in the 15th minute was followed by two further Leitrim points as Limerick struggled and the home side fully deserved their half-time lead of 1-10 to 0-5.
Limerick introduced Robbie Burke and Sean McSweeney at the break and their impact was immediate with Burke pouncing on a rare Leitrim defensive error to send the ball to the net in the 45th minute followed by a Danny Neville point from play to leave four points between the sides after 46 minutes. However, the hosts extended their lead with three points without reply and although Limerick added points through Burke (54) and McSweeney (56), it was to be their last score.
The hosts dominated the closing stages and a Jack Heslin point 12 minutes from time was followed by four more and a second Beirne goal in added time sealed the victory.
SCORE RS–Lei trim: K Be ir ne2-8(1’ 453f),BG all ag her0-3,JH es lin0-3,DM cG overn0-2,RO’ Rourke 0-2. Limerick: R Burke 1-0, J Ryan 0-3(1’45), J Lee 0-2, D Ne ville 0-2, SM cS weeney,SO’ D ea 0-1 each. LEI TRIM–DMc Kier nan8;DWrynne8,M McWeeney8,L Ryan 7; O Madden 7, K Keegan 7, S Quinn 8; E Ward 7, J Rooney 8; J Hes lin 8, KM cG lo in 7, B Gallagher 8; RO’ Rourke 8, K Beirne 9, D Rooney 8. Subs: D McGovern 8 for K Keegan (17). A Flynn 7 for KM cG lo in (51), N McGovern 7 for E Ward (56), M Murphy for SQu inn (63), NM cWeeneyforJHesl in (63), A Armstrong for L Ryan (69).
LIMERICK–DO’ Sullivan 5; CM cWeeney5,S O’Dea 6, B Fanning 5; J Ryan 8, P White 5, J List on 5; D Treacy 6, D Ward 5; DC on nolly 5, CF a hy 5, T McCarthy 5; P Nash 5, D Ne ville 6, J Lee 6. Subs: S O’ Carroll 6 for B Fanning (34). R Burke 8 for D Ward (h-t ), SM cS weeney7fo rT McCarthy( h-t ), P Scan lon 5 for P Nash (55), T Griffin for J Lee (64), PD eBrún for J Ryan (67).
REF – S Mulhare (Laois)