Limerick 3-9 Offaly 2-7: Offaly's fate was more or less sealed between the fourth and fifth minutes when they conceded two goals in a poor match only lifted by Limerick's ebullient performance at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday evening.
Once that demoralising double blow was delivered by a sprightly Limerick side Padraig Nolan's team produced a poor display and were decidedly flattered by their two goals which came in the last two minutes of play.
Morale in the Offaly camp, despite the best efforts of Finbar Cullen, also took a hammering when Vinny Claffey, who was declared fit to start, went over on an ankle in the 24th minute and had to be replaced.
"I am totally disappointed with the team's performance," said a dejected Nolan afterwards. They (Limerick) were quicker to the ball and were easily the best team."
Nolan has ended his term as Offaly manager and was in a non-committal mood as to his future with the team.
His counterpart, Liam Kearns, said that the early goals gave his team confidence and a great platform from which to operate. Kearns had urged his players at half-time to take the game to Offaly. The Limerick manager was particularly happy with the attitude among his players. "They want to keep on learning," he said.
Of the opposition, he said: "Offaly are capable of better, maybe playing Kildare in the replay with only 14 men took a lot out of them."
Limerick's explosive start could have been even worse for Offaly. It opened with a let-off for the losers' defence when Michael Reidy was sent clear only for his shot to be blocked by the advancing Pauric Kelly.
Limerick were obviously intent on using the early ball to effect and in the fourth minute a Stevin Lavins delivery was collected by Reidy who placed Pat Ahern for an easy goal chance which the Athea man took coolly.
In less than a minute the reshuffled Limerick attack was on the rampage and Jason Stokes placed Reidy for Limerick's second goal.
"Those are the kind of moves that are planned in training," commented Nolan afterwards.
Cullen should have pulled one back at the end of the first quarter but Seamus O'Donnell did well to block the effort.
Karl Slattery made a good run at the determined Limerick defence in a determined effort to recover some ground but his pass to Seán Grennan, with a goal imminent, was intercepted .
Limerick led by 2-4 to 0-3 at half-time and already Limerick's giant midfielder John Galvin was well on his way to being man of the match.
Galvin was industrious and effective in the middle and it was little wonder that he was given a standing ovation when called ashore as a precautionary measure in the closing minutes.
Easily the best substitution made by the Limerick back-room team was the introduction of Johnny Murphy to the attack. The Ballylanders man hit three magnificent points early in the second half.
Kearns is under no illusions about the extent of the challenge Limerick face when they take on Mayo next Saturday.
"Mayo are a step up but the pressure will be on them not to lose. We are improving with every outing and our supporters are beginning to realise that they have a good team."
HOW THEY LINED OUT
LIMERICK: 1 S O'Donnell; 2 M O'Riordan 3 D D Sheehy 4 T Stack; 5 S Lavin 6 S Lucey 7 D Reidy; 8 J Quane 9 J Galvin; 10 P Ahern 11 C Fitzgerald 12 C Mullane 13 S Kelly 14 S Stokes 15 M Reidy.
Subs: J Murphy for Ahern (29 mins), M Gavin for O'Riordan (63 mins), C Hickey for Galvin (67 mins).
Booked: J Stokes.
OFFALY: 1 P Kelly; 2 C Daly 3 J Kenny 4 B Mooney; 5 G Rafferty 6 F Cullen 7 K Slattery 8 J Grennan 9 C mcManus; 10 N Coughlan 11 S Grennan 12 A McNamee; 13 C Quinn 14 V Claffey 15 P Kellaghan.
Subs: B Malone for Claffey (24 mins), A Mahon for Malone (53 mins), D Ryan for McNamee (63 mins).
Booked: F Cullen, C McManus.
