Limerick withstand Longford fightback to win Allianz Football League opener

First-half goals from Brian Donovan and Cillian Fahy powered Limerick to a well-deserved seven-point Allianz League Division 3 victory over Longford.

But the win didn't come without a scare for Billy Lee's men, as Longford – boosted by the half-time introduction of Darragh Doherty – brought the game to within two points as the game reached stoppage time in the second half.

Limerick withheld the late Longford comeback as Robbie Bourke settled the nerves in reply to Doherty’s fisted goal, before James Naughton rounded off a Limerick counter-attack for his side’s fourth goal.

After a cautious start to the game from Longford, it was the hosts who got off to a flying start and were four points ahead by the third minute following a superb opening point from Fahy and a well-worked goal from the Limerick midfielder.

Fahy had raised the green flag after just three minutes and really showed composure to find the net. The Dromcollogher Broadford midfielder was put through on goal after an intelligent Pádraig De Brún pass split the Longford defence and his low drive found the back of the net.

Limerick cruised into a five-point lead after seven minutes, with Longford’s first score coming in the ninth minute when Oran Kenny slotted over a close-range advanced mark.

The visitors got their first score from play in the 15th minute when Barry O’Farrell found himself in space on the right-hand side before coolly handpassing over the bar.

With ten minutes to go before half-time, Limerick got their second goal. It was Donovan who found the net – the Monaleen centre-forward linking up well with De Brún and the lively Peter Nash before finding the net to open up a six-point lead.

The result looked sealed in the 31st minute when Donovan found himself