ALL-IRELAND SHC QUALIFIERS ROUND THREE Limerick 0-20 Laois 1-14: JUSTIN McCARTHY was surprised to learn that Saturday's win against Laois marked Limerick's first All-Ireland SHC victory at Semple Stadium since 1997.
Then again, statistics were probably the last thing on McCarthy’s mind at the final whistle after his charges stuttered past Laois to set up an All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin.
McCarthy was simply relieved to emerge with a positive result and admitted that Limerick received “one hell of a fright” from the 11/1 pre-match outsiders.
With less than seven minutes on the watch, Laois had opened up a 1-5 to 0-0 lead and a major upset looked on the cards.
Laois’s touch and stick work were of the highest order during that purple patch, which was decorated by Eoin Costelloe’s fourth-minute goal.
By half-time, Limerick had recovered to trail by 0-9 to 1-9 and, while Laois fired over the first two points of the second half, the Treaty men soon gained a firm footing. A creaky defence solidified and as Limerick came on strong, Laois appeared out on their feet as their early exertions took a heavy toll. After Paudie McNamara and David Breen had missed goal chances, Andrew O’Shaughnessy fired Limerick level at 0-16 to 1-13 with 10 minutes remaining.
From there until the finish, Limerick outscored Laois by 0-4 to 0-1 and their passage to the last eight was finally secured.
“You have to give credit to the team we were playing,” McCarthy insisted. “They outhurled us in the first quarter of an hour, they won great possession, they were onto the breaking ball a bit faster, they had great hunger and they were very sure. They caught some great balls in the air and did all the good things that you need in hurling. You could say they surprised us a little bit. We were chasing the game for long periods. We had to claw our way back.
“We didn’t panic, which was the main thing. I always felt that we were going to win the game but having said that, we got one hell of a fright.”
Proud Laois boss Niall Rigney reflected: “We were right in that game for the 70 minutes. Those lads deserve great credit. A little bit of experience probably told. But who gave us a ghost of a chance? The bookies had us 11/1. There were a few of them shaking I’d say!”
LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, T Condon; S Hickey, B Geary, M Foley; G O'Mahoney (0-3, one free), D O'Grady; J Ryan (0-1), M O'Brien, P Browne (0-3); D Sheehan (0-1), P McNamara (0-2), A O'Shaughnessy (0-6, five frees). Subs: D Moloney for Condon (29), J O'Brien (0-2)for M O'Brien (50), D Breen (0-1)for Sheehan (53), D Ryan (0-1)for Browne (68).
LAOIS: T Doran; J.A. Delaney, D Maher, B Stapleton; J Rowney, B Campion, M McEvoy; C Delaney, J Walsh; E Jackman (0-1), W Hyland (0-8, six frees), O Holohan; T Fitzgerald (0-1), J Brophy (0-2), E Costelloe (1-2). Subs: J Young for Holohan (52), B Dunne for Rowney (62), D Peacock for Costelloe (68).
Referee: C McAllister(Cork).
