LIMERICK SENIOR footballers held on for a four point win in this Allianze National Football league, Division 4 Round 2 on home soil at Kilmallock on Saturday.

The game which was to be played at the Gaelic Grounds in the city on Saturday evening, was to be the first played under lights at that stadium, however GAA chiefs taught that the ground could be frozen hence the switch to Kilmallock at 2-30pm.

The game was played with great intensity all through, the home side probably the more intense, however missed opportunities at vital times stopped the Barrowsiders from bringing home the points on offer.

Limerick started at a blistering pace as with passing movements they registered the games first score inside of fourty five seconds a boxed point from right half forward John Mullane. Carlow had to soak up a lot of Limerick pressure in the opening six minutes, as the home side wanted to put as much on the board as quick as possible.

All credit to the Carlow defence they stood firm and broke up many of Limericks dangerous raids, before they broke through the Limerick defence as J. J. Smith kicked over Carlow's first point after seven minutes to tie the sides. Simon Rea was unlucky to see his free hit the upright and go wide a minute later. Carlow were moving exceptionally well as they carried the game to the home side, but were unable to convert the possession in to scores as Limerick got bodies back behind the ball and had a wall built across the thirty metre line. Intensity With intensity Limerick enjoyed a good passage of play between the fifteenth and thirtieth minutes as they kicked five unanswered points from Ger Collins play John Mullane free, Raymond Hayes from play, full forward Cormac Joyce Power, and free taker Ian Ryan as they opened up a 0-6 to 0-1 lead five minutes before the break.

Carlow rallied as Brendan Murphy took the game by the scruff as he kicked over two excellent long range points from play, easily the best scores of the game as they reduced the lead 0-6 to 0-3. On the stroke of half time, a Carlow free from thirty five metres out was deflected out and waved wide by the umpire, who then changed his mind and gave a fourty five, floated in by J.J. Smith backs and forwards rose high as the ball dropped with the ball coming to Sean Gannon who was brought to ground inside the large square for a penalty.

However, tall Brendan Moran in the Limerick goal was equally up for Simon Reas hard shot as he dived full length to his right to steer the ball out for a fourty five and prevented it from going in to the corner of the net. Simon Reas effort at the fourty five was caught in the square by Conor Mullane as Kerry referee Pádraig O'Sullivan called half time. Carlow deserved more than they got from this period however it's the score board that counts.

Shane Redmond came in to the fray at half time for John Murphy. Fired up on the restart Carlow were first to attack as Willie Minchin was fouled on way for goal, J.J. Smith converted the free as he narrowed the gap to two points 0-6 to 0-4 inside the first minute. Sustained pressure from the Carlow forwards as they attacked the Limerick goal saw two great efforts go narrowly at the wrong sides of the posts, and they were unlucky to see goalie Brendan Moran advance like a bullet to smother Daniel St.Ledger's shot for goal seven minutes in to the last period.

With the let off before and after the break Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's men grew in confidence, as they dictated the game for the next twenty minutes, and as in the first half tacked on five unanswered points to open up a seven point lead 0-11 to 0-4 eleven minutes from the end, with Ian Ryan kicking three frees, and Conor Joyce-Power two from play. The last ten minutes belonged to Carlow as they threw everything at the Munster men.

Sean Gannon broke the duct as he kicked over Carlow's fifth point from play as did J.J. Smith, and Eric McCormack who had only come on was fouled and scored his own free, going in to injury time. Carlow kicked twelve wides to Limericks eight

Carlow will be disappointed that they didn't win the two points, the Rub of the Green certainly didn't go Carlow's way on Saturday and they had some great passages of play now know they have to play for the full seventy minutes with that fierce intensity, with the forwards just having to score more often.

Just wondering? Mickey Ned O'Sullivan of Kerry is manager of Limerick.

The referee was Pádraig O'Sullivan from Kerry as were the umpires.

The other officials were all from Clare. Both counties border Limerick.

Club Start Up

The Carlow GAA club scene will open up with the first round of the minor football championship on the weekend of March 13 and 14.

The senior football leagues Div 1 and 2 will commence on the weekend of 20th & 21st March. Div 3 will start on April 6th. Div. 4 will start on March 31st.

So a lot of players will be sorting out where they left their kit bag the last time they played. Do they need a new pair of boots. Are they gone to fat for their togs, all these questions will need to be addressed very quickly