Limerick end losing streak with win over Antrim in Belfast

Limerick ended a 14-month run without a win as Ian Ryan and Sean McSweeney fired them to a 2-6 to 0-9 victory over Antrim at Corrigan Park in Belfast.

Limerick's two goals arrived in the opening eight minutes as Antrim failed to make the most of a strong wind at their backs in the first-half, while a spirited performance from John Brudair's side saw them claim their first championship win since 2014 - which came against the same team.

In the early stages it seemed as if Antrim were poised to take the most of the fragile Limerick confidence as points from Ryan Murphy and captain Kevin Niblock saw them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after less than two minutes.

But in the next six minutes Limerick took a few huge steps to victory. Firstly McSweeney boosted the Treaty men with a long range free into the face of the strong wind, before then their captain Ryan latched on to a long delivery from Seanie Buckley and rattled the net in the fifth minute.

Three minutes later Antrim fell asunder at the back again when Darragh Treacy was pulled down in the square, and McSweeney showed a cool head to find the bottom corner for Chris Kerr's net to make it 2-1 to 0-2.

With that big lead, Limerick were happy to sit back and protect their advantage, while they showed admirable patience whenever they regained possession as they waited for gaps to appear in the Antrim cover.

But at the other end the home side looked sharper too though, and after Matthew Fitzpatrick and Patrick McBride pointed, a super point from Ryan restored Limerick's four-point cushion.

Limerick stopper Donal O'Sullivan pulled off the first of three excellent saves after 26 minutes to deny Martin Johnson, but Antrim did add a couple of points from McBride and Sean Burke before the break which left them 2-2 to 0-6 in arrears.

A rampaging point from defender Stephen Cahill saw Limerick stretch their advantage after the second-half restarted, but soon after O'Sullivan had to be on his toes to deny Johnson again as he cut in from the right.

Frees from Tomas McCann and Murray kept Antrim in tough with nine minutes remaining, but the Limerick goalkeeper was at his very best again to claw away Ryan Murray's shot with five minutes left.

A Niblock free cut Limerick's lead to two in injury-time, but McSweeney ensured victory was comfortable with a late free in reply for Limerick.

LIMERICK: D O'Sullivan; P Browne, S Cahill (0-1), S O'Dea; B Fanning, J McCarthy, P Ranahan; D Treacy, S Buckley; G Noonan, P Nash, T Childs; S McSweeney (1-3, 1-0pen, 3f), I Ryan (c) (1-2, 1f), H Bourke.

Subs: E Hogan for Bourke (50), P Hannon for Nash (63), I Corbett for Childs (66).

ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O'Boyle, J Crozier, R Johnson; P McBride (0-2), P Gallagher, M Sweeney; S McVeigh, M McCann; J Laverty, M Fitzpatrick (0-1), K Niblock (c) (0-2, 1f); R Murray (0-2, 2f), N McKeever, S Burke (0-1).

Subs: M Johnson for McVeigh (20), D McAleese for Laverty (30), C Murray for Gallagher (h-t), P McAleer for R Johnson (h-t), T McCann (0-1, 1f) for McKeever (56), J Carron for Burke (66).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).