Sport

Limerick's record still perfect

NHL DIVISION TWO Limerick 3-18 Carlow 1-15: LIMERICK HURLERS maintained their 100 per cent record, their nine-point win at Dr…

Mon Mar 28 2011 - 01:00

NHL DIVISION TWO Limerick 3-18 Carlow 1-15:LIMERICK HURLERS maintained their 100 per cent record, their nine-point win at Dr Cullen Park yesterday highlighted by a scoring contribution of 2-4 from right full forward Seán Tobin.

The home side matched their fancied opponents for much of the opening half, scoring the game’s opening two points from Eddie Byrne and Mark Brennan. But their confidence waned after they missed four scoreable frees.

Limerick led 0-8 to 0-6 after 23 minutes but by the interval had raced into a 1-14 to 0-7 advantage. The goal came on 34 minutes when Tobin cruised through the home defence to shoot to the net.

In the second half Carlow remained competitive but after a strong period of early pressure which only produced a pointed free from Ruairí Dunbar, the visitors struck for a second goal on 44 minutes when Tobin took advantage of slack defending to score his second goal.

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Limerick scored a third goal when Richie McCarthy was provider for full forward Paudie McNamara on 50 minutes as the league leaders assumed a 3-15 to 0-11 lead.

Carlow continued to give of their best and had their reward when midfielder Eoin Nolan got a late goal as Limerick tailed off.

Overall there was a clear difference in skill between these sides – Limerick’s first touch and ability to pick out well-placed colleagues was superior to Carlow, who tended to overelaborate in possession and made too many fundamental mistakes.

LIMERICK: T Flynn; D Reale, G O'Mahoney, T Condon; S Hickey, B Geary, W McNamara; D O'Grady (0-1), M O'Riordan; B Hourigan (0-2), R McCarthy (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), J Ryan (0-1); S Tobin (2-4, 0-2 frees), P McNamara (1-2), T O'Brien. Subs: D Moloney for Reale (inj, 38 mins); D Ryan (0-2) for Ryan (57 mins); N Moran for O'Grady, S Walsh for Hickey (both 65 mins); S Lucey for Condon (68 mins); N Maher (0-1, blood sub for M Carthy (7 mins).

CARLOW: K Kehoe; A Corcoran, S Kavanagh, J O'Hara; D English, D Kavanagh (0-2, frees), R Coady; E Nolan (1-1), B Doyle; P Kehoe, E Byrne (0-2), J Kavanagh (0-1); A Gaule, M Brennan (0-4), R Dunbar (0-5, 0-4 frees). Subs: A McDonald for Gaule, D Shaw for P Kehoe (both half-time); E Kane for O'Hara (47 mins); J Doyle for Byrne (57 mins); A Brennan for English.

Referee: T Carroll(Offaly).