This group four clash in the Tailteann Cup paired up two sides who’d suffered 14-point defeats last weekend. However, the manner off Offaly’s shock loss at home to London seemed to linger over their performance.
The Treaty, without a win since this stage last year, were somewhat more assured and accurate, with Rigter’s goal on 56 minutes opening up a five-point lead, 1-9 to 0-7. Before that, it had been tight, with the sides level 0-5 each at half-time.
Nigel Dunne and Ruairí McNamee looked sharpest for Offaly while Barry Coleman and Cathal Downes kicked fine points for Limerick. Level four times in the opening half, it was the men in green who shaded it but couldn’t break through a stubborn Faithful rearguard.
They had to be patient, and when Coleman and Naughton put them two ahead for the first time, Rigter pounced for the goal, echoed by a huge roar form the support in Rathkeale.
The reply wasn’t fantastic from Offaly, in fact just one point in the final 20 minutes was all they managed. Limerick pounced for a late 1-1, with Rigter finishing an Iain Corbett pass to the net before another Newcastle West man, Darren O’Doherty clipped over a point after his introduction.
A victory over London in round three will ensure knock-out football for Limerick, Offaly meanwhile, are all but out ahead of a daunting meeting with one of the competition favourites, Down.
Scorers – Limerick: E Rigter 2-0; C Downes 0-3 (0-1 mark); P Nash 0-2 (0-2 frees); B Coleman 0-2; J Naughton 0-1; R Childs 0-1; D O’Doherty 0-1.
Offaly: N Dunne 0-3 (0-1 free); R McNamee 0-2; P Cunningham 0-1; J Bryant 0-1; E Carroll (mark) 0-1.
Limerick: J Ryan; T McCarthy, S O’Dea, P Maher; B Coleman, C Fahy, C Woulfe; T Childs, E Rigter; T Griffin, J Naughton, C Downes; B Ahern, R Childs, P Nash. Subs: R O’Connor for Fahy (25-35, blood); I Corbett for T Childs (53); D Neville for B Ahern (56); B Nix for Nash (63); D O’Doherty for Woulfe (64); A Meade for Naughton (68); S Costello for Neville (72-74 blood).
Offaly: I Duffy; L Pearson (C), D Dempsey, J Furlong; C Egan, P Cunningham, J O’Brien; E Carroll, D Hogan; D Hyland, R McNamee, J Hayes; N Dunne, K O’Neill, J Bryant. Subs: A Sullivan for Hyland (50); C Flynn for Hyland (51); C Farrell for Dunne (60); K McDermott for Hayes (64).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
