Limerick took a massive step towards promotion to Division 3 as James Naughton a crucial last-gasp free to help his side to a 1-21 to 3-15 draw against Wicklow in Aughrim.
Going into the game the permutations were simple with Limerick sitting one point above Wicklow in the second promotion spot. This meant a win or a draw would keep alive the Treaty promotion hopes ahead of their final game against Waterford.
For Wicklow, the contest was do or die, as only a win would see the Garden County men leapfrog into the second position going into the final round of action.
As the game ebbed and flowed it proved impossible to call the outcome but a final scoring flurry from Limerick allowed them to pin Wicklow back.
A two-pointer from Emmet Rigter landed over the crossbar as the intercom rang out in Aughrim. Four minutes of injury time would be played. The two sides traded frees in this period but when Tommie Childs captured the final Wicklow kickout the substitute was fouled and the free was brought forward for Naughton to level the contest in the final play of the game.
The first half once up and running was end to end. Naughton who managed the last point of the game also landed the first from another placed ball for the Treaty men.
Both sides in the opening stages landed points before the game’s first goal. Kevin Quinn, with the initial chance, saw his effort stopped by Josh Ryan in the goal only for a defensive mishap to allow Wicklow midfielder Podge O’Toole to capsulise and fire home.
Kevin Quinn landed the next point for his side as Wicklow looked to pull away as they secured a four-point lead at this stage. However, a Limerick purple patch was incoming which saw Naughton add three and Nash one to level things. Quinn hit back with a two-pointed free but on the stroke of halftime Emmet Rigter found himself through on the Wicklow goal where he made no mistake, giving his side a one-point lead at the break.
Following the restart, Limerick continued their run of form with a Paul Maher point and a Naughton two-point free.
Just as the game looked to be getting away from the home side, Aughrim erupted as an Oisin McGraynor point effort fell short and was scrambled home by Jack Kirwan. From here both sides traded scores with Limerick once again taking the lead until Dean Healy came onto a break late on and fired first time to the Limerick net giving his side a three-point advantage.
Substitute Darragh O’Siochru immediately impacted off the bench and ate into the Wicklow lead with his first touch before Kevin Quinn and Cillian Fahy traded points as the game ticked into injury time.
Naughton last-minute free levelled up the contest and put his side firmly in the hunt for promotion to Division 3.
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald; Tom Moran (0-01), Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (0-01), Patrick O’Keane, Matt Nolan; Dean Healy (1-01), Pádraig O’Toole (1-02); John Paul Nolan, Christopher O’Brien (0-01), Jack Kirwan (1-0); Oisin McGraynor (0-4, 2f), Kevin Quinn (0-04, 1tpf), Eoin Darcy.
Subs: Conor Fee for C O’Brien (h/t), Mark Kenny (0-01) for E Darcy (61), Darragh Fee J Nolan (61), Cathal Baker for J Kirwan (69), Jaques McCal for Podge
Limerick: Josh Ryan; Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney, Fiachra Cotter; Mick McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Darragh O'Hagan (0-02), Paul Maher (0-03); Robbie Childs, James Naughton (0-10, 1tpf, 4f), Cillian Fahy (0-01), Peter Nash (0-01), Emmet Rigter (1-03, 1tp), Killian Ryan.
Subs: Diarmuid Buckley for T McCarthy (temp. 27’-32’), Tommie Childs for P Maher for Maher (42), Darragh O’Siochru (0-01) for R Childs (42), Andrew Mead for I Corbett (58), Diarmuid Buckley for M McCarthy (66), Jamie Baynham for P Nash (66).
Referee: Conor Dourneen Cavan
