Darragh Kirwan's 76th-minute backheel goal clinched Kildare’s survival and with it, relegated Limerick and Clare from Division 2 of the Football League.
The Lilywhites’ first goals since May 2022 saved their status, with Kevin Flynn giving their fans a first green flag to cheer since Jimmy Hyland’s consolation goal in last year’s Leinster final.
It was a lacklustre encounter in which the victory mattered more than the means until a nervy end-to-end finale, with Jack Robinson and Kirwan cancelling out goals conceded to James Naughton and Cillian Fahy.
Limerick were under the new management of Mark Fitzgerald, stepping up from his selector role after Ray Dempsey’s sudden resignation. His only change from their draw against Meath was enforced, Paul Maher in for injured joint-captain Iain Corbett.
They lacked urgency in attack and gave Kildare all the time they needed to filter as many bodies as they liked behind their own 45, often all 15.
When the visitors turned over the ball, they moved at a greater pace. Barry Coffey, Paddy Woodgate (free), and Kirwan (0-2) picked off the first four points inside 14 minutes.
Naughton kicked two frees in response but the big moment came in the 21st minute. Kirwan found Woodgate’s cut-back run behind the Limerick rearguard with a fine low pass and Flynn was charging into attack to finish. 1-4 to 0-2.
Colm McSweeney provided Limerick’s only first-half point from play before Flynn unlocked the Limerick defence again, Kirwan’s shot saved by Donal O’Sullivan but Ben McCormack tapped over from the rebound. He would exit with a knock soon after.
A Fahy mark was again cancelled out when they fell asleep from a short free. Woodgate found Daniel Flynn unmarked in front of the posts and he laid off for Neil Flynn to score. 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
Limerick’s wait for an attacker to score from play continued with wing-back Barry Coleman stepping forward to compensate with a point.
Daniel Flynn had an ambitious effort on goal wide but Kevin Flynn nabbed a point in the next play.
Limerick then wasted back-to-back goal chances. They overplayed their first chance as Peter Nash was denied by a superb Kevin O’Callaghan goalline block. Then, Naughton lobbed an effort just wide after a quick free.
David Hyland pointed for Kildare but Naughton’s goal, dashing onto a breaking ball around the Kildare posts, cut the gap to three, 1-8 to 1-5.
Kildare’s response was immediate. Aaron Masterson won a mark from the kick-out and worked it down the flank. From a sideline ball, Woodgate found Kirwan and he forced his way along the endline to square for Robinson to palm home.
After Naughton and Kirwan traded points from play, Fahy turned Robbie Bourke’s shot across goal into the net. The gap was three once more with two minutes plus another five of stoppage time to go.
It could’ve been level but Nash lashed a snap-shot straight at Mark Donnellan. An insurance free from Robinson was negated by Brian Donovan’s punched effort, which drifted inches over the Kildare crossbar.
With Limerick pressing the final kick-out, Kildare found the gaps. Daniel Flynn picked out David Hyland and while Kirwan’s initial attempt was impeded, his improvised backheel gave Kildare something to celebrate.
Limerick: D O’Sullivan; M Donovan, S O’Dea, B Fanning; B Coleman (0-01), C McSweeney (0-01), T McCarthy; C Downes, C Fahy (1-01, 0-01m); P Maher, J Naughton (1-03, 0-02f), C Sheehan; K Ryan, B Donovan (0-01), H Bourke.
Subs: A Enright for Ryan (35), G Brown for McCarthy (h-t), P Nash for Downes (43), R Bourke for Coleman (56), D Lyons for H Bourke (67).
Kildare: M Donnellan; M O’Grady, S Ryan, R Houlihan; D Hyland (0-01), K Flynn (1-01), J Sargent; A Masterson, K O’Callaghan; B Coffey (0-01), B McCormack (0-01), A Beirne; N Flynn (0-01), D Kirwan (1-03), P Woodgate (0-01f).
Subs: D Flynn for McCormack (30 inj), J Robinson (1-01, 0-01f) for N Flynn (52), P Cribbin for Beirne (56), P McDermott for Coffey (64), E Doyle for Woodgate (70+2).
Referee: J Ryan (Cork).
