Switches pay off for Cregan

NHL/Division IALimerick 1-18 Offaly  2-10: Limerick built on their victory over Tipperary last week with a five-point win over an inexperienced Offaly team in Birr yesterday.

With five key players from newly-crowned All-Ireland club champions Birr unavailble to manager Tom Fogarty, Offaly were fortunate to find Johnny Dooley in such impeccable free-taking form throughout the first half.

Dooley's contribution of seven points and Damian Murray's goal gave Offaly a 1-7 to 1-4 lead - Brian Begley having scored Limerick's goal - at the interval.

Eamonn Cregan and his selectors immediately buckled down to the business of reshuffling their Limerick team. Three changes were made, with injured goalkeeper Joe Quaid replaced by Albert Shandon, who made a spectacular save from John Ryan in the last quarter that was afterwards seen as a key moment by both managers.

From the moment the second half began Limerick were a revitalised team. James Butler was at the heart of the revival, which saw Offaly slip from a three-point interval advantage to a six-points deficit by the end of the third quarter.

Mark Keane began to look every bit as good with the placed ball as Dooley in the first half, while Sean O'Connor sparkled in their attack.

However, as Limerick began to sit back feeling they had done enough, Offaly struck with a great goal by Ryan, which put them within two points of Limerick with eight minutes remaining.

The alarm bells rang and further changes were deemed necessary by Cregan. "We are inclined to rest on our oars. It may be that we lack the killer instinct," he said afterwards.

But it was relief all around in the Limerick dug-out when Ryan's goal was answered with gusto in the dying minutes by superb points from Butler, Barry Foley, another sub, and Keane.

LIMERICK: J Quaid; D Reale, TJ Ryan, C Smith; P Lawlor, B Geary, M Foley (0-1); S Lucey (0-1), C Carey (0-2); O Foley, S O'Connor (0-3), O Moran; C Fitzgerald (0-2), B Begley (1-0), M Keane (0-5, four frees and one 65). Subs: A Shandon for Quaid, J Butler (0-3) for O Foley, J Foley for C Smith (all half-time), M O'Brien for Moran (64 mins), B Foley (0-1) for Fitzgerald (66 mins).

OFFALY: S Byrne; D Franks, S Tooher, D Moran; J Brady, N Rigney, K Martin; D Kelly, G Oakley; Johnny Dooley (0-7, frees), B Murphy, D Murray (1-1); B Carroll (0-1), J Ryan (1-1), M O'Hara. Sub: W Comerford for Martin (12 mins).

Referee: P Ahearne (Carlow)