The Yeats County, who previously topped group two, took a couple of minutes to settle, as Jimmy Lee’s men did go a point in front, but Sligo responded with some excellent scores and the victory never looked in doubt.
The superb Seán Carrabine had added five of their 13 scores by the interval, two from frees and a mark, as the hardworking Cian Lally hit three, with captain Niall Murphy, Darragh Cumins, Lee Deignan, Canice Mulligan and Nathan Mullen also registering one each by half-time.
Sligo were in complete control and gave Limerick plenty of headaches as they led by 13 points to five at half-time and were also playing with the aid of the breeze in the second period.
It was a low-scoring opening ten minutes to the second half, Limerick registering the only point before Sligo extended their lead, a brilliant ball from Lally into the path of Deignan, who blasted the net on 45 minutes, Sligo never looking in doubt.
The brilliant McLoughlin, Murphy and Carrabine extended Sligo’s lead as Pat Spillane was introduced to the fray after a long-term injury. Paddy O’Connor hit Sligo’s second goal, good work from substitute Mark Walsh as Sligo cruise into the Tailteann Cup semi-final in Croke Park.
Scorers – Sligo: L Deignan 1-1; M Walsh 1-0; S Carrabine 0-7 (2f 1m); C Lally 0-3, N Murphy (1f, ’45) 0-3; D Cummins, A Mcloughlin 0-2 each; C Mulligan, N Mullen 0-1 each. Limerick: J Ryan (1f, ’45), P Nash (2f) 0-2 each; I Corbett, T Childs, C Fahy, R Childs, S O’Dea 0-1 each
Sligo: A Devaney; E Lyons, E McGuinness, P McNamara, B Cox; D Cummins, P Kilcoyne, P O’Connor; C Mulligan, C Lally; A McLoughlin, S Carrabine, M Gordon; L Deignan, N Murphy (C). Subs: J Lavin for Cox (h/t), M Walsh for Gordon (53), D Conlon for Lally (55), E Smith for Cummins (59)
Limerick: J Ryan; C Woulfe, S O’Dea, P Maher; B Coleman, C Fahy, T McCarthy, T Childs, I Corbett (C), E Rigter, J Naughton, C Downes, D Neville, R Childs, P Nash. Subs: J Liston for McCarthy (h/t), B Nix for Naughton (46), S Costello for Downes (48), B Ahern for Childs (61), A Meade for Rigter (67),
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
