Relegated Limerick take on Offaly in final league group game:
By Leader Reporter
ALREADY-RELEGATED Limerick complete their programme of fixtures in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League this Sunday when travelling to Tullamore to face Offaly at Glenisk O’Connor Park.
Limerick’s relegation to Division 4 was confirmed last weekend following the side’s 0-9 to 0-8 defeat to Wicklow at Echelon Park, Aughrim.
That defeat extended Limerick’s two year wait for a win in the league as the Shannonsiders were condemned to a second successive league relegation.
Limerick left themselves with a mountain to climb in the second half against Wicklow after trailing 0-2 to 0-6 at half-time, despite having played with the aid of the breeze in the opening period.
Limerick turned in an improved performance after the restart but the Shannonsiders had left themselves with too much to do in their bid to turn the game around.
Sunday’s clash with Offaly in Tullamore will be Limerick’s final competitive fixture before their Munster senior championship quarter-final clash in just over two weeks time against Cork at SuerValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, April 7.
Following Saturday’s defeat to Wicklow in Aughrim, Limerick manager Jimmy Lee said: “In the first half we were flat. I think we spent too much time inside in our own heads over-thinking it and over-playing it in our heads.
“In fairness, they addressed it at half-time and came at it. It’s hard to know, we have been doing this all year, first half – poor, second half – better. We just need to go back and have a look at the full thing, all of us.
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“We have Offaly next weekend and then we have Cork in the Munster championship.”
On a positive note for Limerick, both Josh Ryan and Danny Neville re back in the squad. “We Bryan Nix back too. We did pick up knocks during the week too. We have been hit with injuries. I would be hoping to have some more players back from injuries.”
Jimmy Lee said the players in the squad are ‘working their socks off.’
“I do know the players in the squad are working hard. To be fair to them, there is no more I can ask of them. “They are working their socks off doing everything. You see green shoots of improvement, but it’s a bit like making a cake, you are missing an ingredient.”
Limerick’s opponents in Sunday’s final round Allianz Football League fixture in Tullamore, Offaly, played out a 1-10 to 0-13 draw away to Sligo last weekend.
Offaly will secure their Allianz Football League Division 3 status for 2025 if they can avoid defeat at home to Limerick next Sunday.
A dramatic Nigel Dunne point secure a draw for the Faithful county in the dying moments of their key Division Three game with Sligo last weekend.