Limerick defeated Carlow 1-19 to 0-14 in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday in Round 2 of the Tailteann Cup
Limerick made it back-to-back wins in this year’s Tailteann Cup when they defeated Carlow on Saturday afternoon, Carlow couldn’t get to the highs of the previous week’s victory over Wicklow. Limerick are a Division 2 team and, while their campaign this season hasn’t been the best, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Barrowsiders. Carlow started the game very well and got the first two scores to take an early lead but Limerick were soon up to match speed and by the first quarter they had a 0-6 to 0-2 lead over the home side. Carlow had a strong finish in the second quarter and both teams went into the break level at 0-8 each.
Just after the resumption of the second half Limerick got in for the first goal of the game, followed up with five points, and by the 46th minute, had an eight-point lead (1-13 to 0-8). Carlow battled right to the end but Limerick showed their skill and experience and held out for a comfortable win in the end to almost guarantee their qualification into the knockout stages.
“I think the five points down and to come back with five unanswered, we didn’t panic in the first half”, manager Niall Carew told KCLR after the game.
“in the second half when we conceded the 1-2 early on I think our lads tried to force it and when you try to force it against a team very seasoned like Limerick, playing and operating out of Division 2 you will get punished. They have some excellent players right through the team. We would be disappointed that we tried to force things when there was no need to early in the second half and that probably cost us, whereas if we kept the scoreboard ticking over to get it back to four, three, then all of a sudden they’re doubting themselves but we didn’t. We made our mistakes they got six or seven and we struggled after that.”
Carew had a great view of the Limerick goal as he was walking over from the dressing room/
“I was walking along the sideline, I saw it, I think it was down to our lads not tracking and letting one or two others go. In fairness, to Limerick, they punish you all the way when that happens, any goal you concede is not nice but we have no complaints. Limerick were just better all around today. They are a better-seasoned team, they have a lot of experience, they have no young fellas at all. Lads have been through the mill getting from Division 4 to Division 2. They ran Clare very close this year as well.”
“They’re a good outfit, they’re a step above us but in saying that if we didn’t panic in the second half we could have been right in it near the end but we did panic and we forced it for the ten minutes. That cost us ultimately because you will get your ten minutes but you have to hang in there. When we went five down we kicked in two or three long balls when we didn’t need to instead of holding onto it and getting a score or two, but well learn and that’s what it’s all about”.
Destiny is in their hands
“Everyone knew on paper that Limerick were the best team in this they were the number one seed and we were number four. We have Longford now. I was at the Limerick/Longford game and I thought Limerick won that comfortably enough as well even though there were only three points in it at the end they seemed to be always in control, now Longford are at our level as well so it’s going to take a big performance to beat them”.
Check out the full interview on Scoreline Extra at the link below
