Sligo Rovers were well beaten by Limerick in their opening game of the season on Friday evening at the Markets Field.
The Bit O’ Red handed just one of their close season signings a first start, as midfielder Chris Kenny lined out in midfield, with Kyle Callan-McFadden, Shaun Patton, Jonah Ayunga and Matthew Stevens on the bench alongside youngsters Mikey Place, Jack Keaney and John Mahon.
But Ian Turner had Limerick in front inside three minutes, and two goals from Brazilian striker Rodrigo Tosi had Martin Russell’s side 3-0 up and cruising by half-time.
Rovers made a double-change at the break, with Stevens and Callan-McFadden introduced for Kenny and Michael Leahy.
Stevens, on-loan at Rovers from Peterborough, managed to pull one back for the visitors with his first competitive goal for the club.
But that was as good as it got, as Tosi completed his hat-trick, and former Rovers midfielder Lee Lynch put the icing on the cake for Limerick with the fifth goal.
Ayunga was introduced by the Bit O’ Red late on, but Limerick were well in command, and even Micheál Schlingermann’s penalty save from Turner’s spot-kick could not prevent them from going top of the table.
Meanwhile, Seanie Maguire’s strike on the stroke of half-time earned Cork City a 1-0 win against a hard-working Finn Harps side at Finn Park.
Paddy McCourt made his Harps debut as a second-half substitute.
Harps are away to Bray next Friday and Rovers are at home to Dundalk next Saturday in their next outings.
Both Bray and Dundalk started with 2-1 wins on Friday.
RESULTS
Limerick 5 Sligo Rovers 1
Finn Harps 0 Cork City 1
Dundalk 2 Shamrock Rovers 1
St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Bray Wanderers 2
Galway United 0 Drogheda United 1
Bohemians 1 Derry City 4
