February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Pierce O’Reilly
Limerick 3-11, Offaly 2-9
New York hurling is in fine fettle at present. The previous week, Kilkenny and Waterford served up a classic encounter, while on Sunday Limerick and Offaly bolstered the upward curve. The hurling senior training is the main reason such levels of artistry are on show at Gaelic Park. Limerick manager Kieran O’Sullivan deserves great credit.
"People are always questioning why we pump so much money into our county panels," O’Sullivan said. "Well, the answer is simple. It improves the standard of the game here no end."
Maurice Foley and O’Sullivan were happy men leaving the park. Their superior fitness levels proved to be the difference in the final 10 minutes. Offaly stuck with their opponents up to that but tired near the end and let their guard down at crucial periods.
Limerick led at the interval 1-7 to 1-3, with Cork native Tom Fitzgibbon very impressive at midfield. Fitzgibbon is almost certain now to line out at wing forward on the New York side who take on Down on May 13. The Midlanders, who have a knack of beating Limerick of late, were resolute in every thing they did. Damien Moran hit some great first-half points, while Kevin Dunne rattled the net midway through to keep their ship afloat. Sean Nolan and Dave Reynolds were also impressive after their New York winter training. Nolan has a heart as big as a lion and his play was an inspiration to his teammates.
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In the second half, Limerick struggled to pull clear. Darragh Connolly did score a goal for the Shannonsiders, but Offaly refused to lie down. Reynolds and Damien Moran hit further points before Ger Coughlan leveled the sides with an opportunist goal for Offaly with 10 minutes to play. Fitness proved to be the winning factor in the remaining time with Limerick goalie Finbar Flood striking a goal and a point before the end. Flood was moved out field when John Riordan received a leg injury. The move was instrumental in Limerick’s victory. Eamon Shields and Tom Fitzgibbon put the final nails in Offaly’s coffin with two late points.
Offaly: Dermot Flynn, Mike Dolan, Enda Condron, Brian Delaney, Colm Scanlon, Dermot Coughlan 0-1, Sean Nolan 0-1, Damien Moran 0-5, Kevin Dunne 1-0, Rory Stanworth, Dave Reynolds 0-2, Seamus O’Meara, Sean Donoghue. Subs: G Coughlan 1-0.
Limerick: Finbar Flood 1-1, John Riordan, Tom Simms, Eamon Shields 0-1, Donal Fitzgibbon 0-2, Enda Lalley, Tom Fitzgibbon 0-4, Seamus Carey, Dave Dunne 0-1, James Mc Sweeney, Tadhg Callaghan, Darragh Connelly 1-1, Brendan Cagney 1-1. Sub: Paul Scannell.