Limerick a class apart

SHC Qualifier/Limerick 4-25 Antrim 1-9: A massive gulf in class was evident at Casement Park on Saturday as Limerick went into a 2-8 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter of their Round One, Group One qualifier.

TJ Ryan scored Limerick's opening goal and that was followed by a Donie Ryan goal. Antrim scored five unanswered points but Ryan struck his second goal and Limerick led by 3-10 to 0-6 at half-time.

The visitors got their fourth goal through Andrew O'Shaughnessy, while Jim Connolly managed a late consolation goal for Antrim.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, S Lucey, P O'Dwyer; O Moran, B Geary, P Lawlor (0-3); P O'Grady (0-1), D O'Grady; P Tobin (0-1), N Moran (0-6), A O'Shaughnessy (1-1); D Ryan (2-1), TJ Ryan (1-5), D Sheehan (0-2). Subs: K Tobin for Geary (half-time), S O'Connor for TJ Ryan (41 mins), C Fitzgerald (0-1) for D Ryan (43 mins); P Kirby (0-2) for Sheahan (48 mins), A O'Connor (0-2) for O'Shaughnessy (55 mins).

ANTRIM: DD Quinn; M Kettle, G Bell, C Hamill; G Cunningham, J Campbell, M McCambridge (0-1); P Richmond (0-1), M Scullion; K McKeegan (0-3), K Kelly, K Stewart (0-1), J McIntosh (0-1), J Connolly (1-0), B McFall (0-2). Subs: C Herron for Kettle (18 mins), A O'Caireallen for McCambridge (inj, 30 mins); M Herron for Stewart (47 mins); C McGuckian for Kelly (51 mins).

Referee: S McGrath (Westmeath).