Ace marksman John Doyle proved the hero as Kildare beat Limerick in Saturday night's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier at the Gaelic Grounds.
Doyle grabbed the only goal, 23 minutes into the second half, which broke the hearts of Limerick and he also scored six points, including three frees and one from a '45'.
It was a rip-roaring affair throughout and in the closing stages Limerick had to opt for goal.
But when the Shannonsiders look back at their performance, a total of eight wides told its own tale of what might have been as the fairytale ended for Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's men.
Limerick had a boost before the throw-in when both Padraig Browne and Stephen Kelly passed fitness tests on hamstring strains.
The home side also had the perfect start on the field when John Galvin burst through from midfield for the opening point after only 30 seconds' play.
John Doyle then hit three unanswered points for Kildare - from a free, a '45' and a sideline ball, before Ian Ryan, the goal-scoring hero against Meath, notched a point for Limerick from a free.
Seanie Buckley put over two splendid Limerick points to edge his side in front, and they were followed by another pointed Limerick free. O'Sullivan's charges had scored four unanswered points to lead by 0-06 to 0-03.
Kildare's first point from play and their first for 15 minutes was a fine effort by Ken Donnelly, before Padraig O’Neill had another moments later to leave only one point between the sides.
It was Limerick's turn for two in a row when Ian Ryan put over a free and James Ryan tacked on another from play.
The first goal opportunity fell to Limerick but after Kildare goalkeeper Enda Murphy came off his line, Ian Ryan squandered a great chance when he shot inches wide.
At the other end, Sean Kiely made a great save as Limerick ended the half 0-08 to 0-05 in front.
It was a half in which three Kildare players and one from Limerick were shown yellow cards by referee Syl Doyle from Wexford.
Ian Ryan and Doyle exchanged pointed frees and James Kavanagh had Kildare's third point from play to leave only two points between them inside four minutes of the resumption.
Kavanagh and Doyle (0-02), with one from a free, left only one between them before Jim Donovan punched a point for Limerick.
Limerick then had a let-off when Eamonn Callaghan worked his way through but shot wide as Browne and Kelly left the action.
Michael Conway kept Kildare’s deficit to a single point but suddenly the contest turned when Man of the Match Doyle burst in to beat Kiely for a crucial goal, putting his side 1-09 to 0-10 in front and victory was soon theirs.
Ian Ryan briefly reduced the deficit to a single point again, splitting the posts with an excellent free from close to the sideline, but the game was put beyond Limerick when Doyle and Conway put a goal between the sides in injury-time.
Kildare: E Murphy; M O’Flaherty, K O’Neill, A McLoughlin; E Bolton, M Foley, M Scanlon; K Brennan, D Earley; J Kavanagh (0-01), P O’Neill (0-01), E Callaghan; A Smyth, K Donnelly (0-01), J Doyle (1-06, 3f, 1 ’45’, 1 sl).
Subs used: D Flynn for Brennan, A White for O’Neill, M Conway (0-02) for Smyth.
Limerick: S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Browne, S Lavin (0-01), P Ranahan; J Donovan (0-01), J Galvin (0-01); S Kelly, J Ryan (0-01), S Buckley (0-02); G Collins, M Crowley, I Ryan. (0-05, 5f).
Subs used: L O'Dwyer for Browne, G Noonan for Kelly, J Cooke for Noonan, S Kelly for Donovan.
Referee: Syl Doyle (Wexford).
