Limerick hammer Offaly as eyes turn to Munster campaign

Goals from Oisin O'Reilly, Cian Lynch, Barry Nash, and Pat Ryan ensured Limerick produced an eye-catching performance to secure their first win of their Division 1 Group A League campaign following a comfortable 24-point win over Offaly at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon

Aaron Gillane put in an all-action display, top-scoring to finish the game with 0-12, while Luke O'Connor's free-scoring efforts kept a battling Offaly side in with a fighting chance with 0-07 for Michael Fennelly's side.

Despite not firing on all cylinders in the first half, All-Ireland champions Limerick led 1-16 to 0-10 at the interval, but really upped the tempo the second half to run out 4-29 to 0-17 winners, outscoring Offaly five points to one in the final 35 minutes.

Michael Fennelly's Offaly side only earned promotion to the division last year, but now the Faithful County must navigate a relegation play-off against Antrim.

Looking to get their first win of the League season, Limerick named 12 of the players who started the 2021 All-Ireland final against Cork, all of seven months ago.

John Kiely welcomed Mike Casey back into the team as the Na Piarsaigh full-back made his first start for the Treaty men since the 2020 league tie against Waterford following prolonged knee ligament issues.

Aided by a strong breeze at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Offaly got off to the brighter start with Luke O’Connor getting the better of Sean Finn inside the opening minute for the game’s opening point.

However, by the sixth minute Limerick led by 0-04 to 0-02 thanks to scores from Aaron Gillane, Diarmaid Byrnes, and Graeme Mulcahy after both sides were level twice in the early stages.

Limerick were really finding their rhythm at this stage and the game-changing came in the