Limerick opened their well prepared and planned drive through Division Three with an explosive start, rendering Longford shell shocked and physically outclassed in most sectors on the field. A physically well conditioned side who are showing the benefits of a very generous benefactor, Limerick were streets ahead of longford in physicality.

It made for a staggering beginning for the Longford, who went in 7 points adrift at half time, the score being 3-5 to 0-7.

That was a very high mountain to climb, for Longford with team boasting 14 new players in their ranks. I think that’s right across the panel. Not enough big men in the team, though in time the new players will improve, with increased Strength and Conditioning, and will in turn make many of them more in the mould of Darren Doherty. But that takes time.

No manager can change the physique of an entire team overnight. 

It’s simply impossible. Cannot be done by any manager no matter how experienced they are, they are forced to wait it out and try to scrape a few wins along the way.                                      In Division Three in 2022, that won’t be easy. 

Yet it is incumbent upon us all, to give this bunch of new players, along with the remnants of the last side, a decent chance to develop and mature. They may go down to Division four for next year - but with a bit of luck could ride out the storm, and retain their current status.

Personally, I don’t think that’s possible because there isn’t enough time to work on everything all at once. I do think Longford will be in Division 4 next year.                                                         But that won’t do them any harm at all, if such transpires.

Nonetheless Longford made a huge effort to stage a comeback and narrowed the margin in the last quarter, to the extent that Limerick realised that they must play a better game to win, and they did respond by a few quick scores, including a fourth goal in the dying seconds of extra time, which resulted in a final margin of 6 points between the sides at the finish.

Next up is Louth.