Limerick suffer Allianz Football League defeat as Sligo prevail in Rathkeale

“IT'S NOT getting easier. Our frailties were there for all to see today.” Manager Jimmy Lee wasn't hiding his disappointment as Limerick crashed to a 1-12 to 0-10 defeat to Sligo in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Sunday afternoon.

This was Limerick's third National Football League defeat out of three in 2024 and sees the Shannonsiders rooted to the foot of the Division 3 table.

The Shannonsiders are one of three sides yet to pick up a point in the division to date.

Limerick have a vastly inferior score difference to fellow-strugglers Wicklow and Offaly and are in real danger of a second successive relegation ahead of their next outing away to leaders Westmeath next weekend.

Even worse for Lee's injury-ravaged squad, they may well be without Peter Nash for the trip to Mullingar. Top scorer both in this game and in the previous against Down, the Kildimo-Pallaskenry corner-forward looked in real pain as he was helped off the field with a rib injury just before the game moved into six minutes of added time.

Unlike their previous defeats to Antrim and Down, there was no period during this game when Limerick looked as if they might pull off a result.

They did manage to pull back within two points coming up to half-time when playing against the wind but then conceding the game's only goal left them facing a mountain they were never likely to overcome.

A short spell after the restart when they showed pace and support play going forward reawakened some faint hopes of a comeback but they died just as quickly as Sligo snuffed the conviction out of their attacks.

Sligo's five-point margin at the final whistle scarcely reflected their dominance over the seventy minutes. Whenever they were in any danger, they able to step on the gas and keep their opponents at bay. Once they moved seven ahead with fifteen minutes to go, they settled for containment, gave the subs a run and soaked the composure and shape from Limerick's attempts to respond.

SCORERS: SLIGO: Paul McNamara 1-0, Seán Carrbine (2 frees), Niall Murphy (2 frees) 0-3 each, Patrick O' Connor, Pat Spillane 0-2 each, Aidan Devaney, Alan McLoughlin 0-1 each; LIMERICK: Peter Nash 0-4 (2 frees), Tommy Childs, Eoin Hurley (1 free) 0-2 each, Colm McSweeney, Barry Coleman 0-1 each.

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Patrick O'Connor, Paul Kilcoyne; Alan McLoughlin, Eoghan Smith, Cian Lally; Pat Spillane, Seán Carrabine, Niall Murphy. SUBS: Mikey Gordon for Eoghan S|mith (half-time), Daire O'Boyle for Nathan Mullen (50 minutes), Keelan Cawley for Patrick O'Connor (55 minutes), Donal Conlon for Pat Spillane (65 minutes), Lee Deignan for Alan McLoughlin (71 minutes).

LIMERICK: Aaron O'Sullivan; Jim Liston, Seán O'Dea, Cillian Fahy; Barry Coleman, Colm McSweeney, Paul Maher; Tommy Childs, Tommy Griffin; Iain Corbett, James Naughton, Cathal Downes; John Hayes, Bob Childs, Peter Nash. SUBS: Jamie Baynham for John Hayes (half-time), Emmet Rigter for Tommy Griffin (56 minutes), Shane Costello for James Naughton (68 minutes), Eoin Hurley for Peter Nash (injured, 69 minutes).

REFEREE: Chris Maguire (Clare).