Limerick got their defence of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 with a comprehensive 1-36 to 1-09 win over Antrim at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
With only four starters from their All-Ireland win in July, Limerick's youngsters impressed throughout with their full forward line of Adam English, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh and Shane O’Brien doing the majority of the damage.
It was a sobering defeat for a much changed Antrim outfit for 2023 with the Saffrons only scoring twice in the second half.
Two Conal Cunning frees had them 0-03 to 0-01 in front early on but Limerick were soon back on track thanks to two from English and one from O’Brien.
John Kiely’s men continued to lead until the 18th minute when Rian McMullen’s endeavour created a goal chance for Fred McCurry and he fired a shot past Limerick keeper Jamie Power. It was all to play for at that stage but Limerick soon flexed their muscles with Ó Dálaigh, O’Brien and English to the fore.
Limerick hit 10 points on the trot in a 12-minute period towards the end of the first half that effectively finished the game as a contest with the half time score at 0-16 to 1-07.
Antrim were up against it to say the least after the break and they were architects of their own misfortune with a minute gone in the second half after Tiernan Smyth’s free was blocked down by Gearóid Hegarty.
The ball fell to O’Brien and he powered a shot beyond the reach of the backpedalling Smyth and into the net. Limerick turned on the style after that with their link play cutting through the Antrim defence at will.
Hegarty hit the target three times, while his half forward partners in the second half, Cathal O’Neill and Micheál Houlihan landing twice.
Ó Dálaigh and O’Brien continued to tack on further scores as the half drew to a close. Graeme Mulcahy also came on with a cameo of two points in the emphatic 27-point win.
Limerick: J Power; F O’Connor, D Morrissey, A Costello; D Byrnes, D Reidy (0-02, 1f), M Quinlan (0-01); B Murphy, C Coughlan; G Hegarty (0-03), C O’Neill (0-03), C Boylan; D Ó Dálaigh (0-07), S O’Brien (1-05), A English (0-10, 6f);
Subs: M Houlihan (0-02) for Boylan (h-t), E Hurley for Bynres (h-t), J Fitzgerald for Murphy (45), G Mulcahy (0-02) for English (51), P O’Donovan (0-01f) for Hegarty (61 temp), E McEvoy for O’Connor (63).
Antrim: T Smyth; P Duffin, R McCloskey, P Burke; S Walsh (0-01), R McGarry, C Boyd; S Rooney, N O’Connor (0-02); R McMullen (0-01f), A O’Brien, C McCann; C Cunning (0-04f), A Bradley (0-01), F McCurry (1-0).
Subs: E Trainor for Rooney (48), C McGarry for McCann (52), J McLaughlin for Bradley (52), R McAteer for O’Brien (64), N McGarrel for McMullen (68 mins).
Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).
