A superb display by Gavin O’Mahoney inspired Limerick to victory against a gallant Dublin at Thurles.
O’Mahoney scored eight points, including the last three of an enthralling contest in which the sides were level at the interval thanks to a penalty with the last strike of the half for Limerick’s second goal.
Dublin got off to a whirlwind start with a first-minute goal by Liam Rushe following a long-range free, which bounced in front of Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray and Rushe got the vital touch.
Alan McCrabbe scored eight points for Dublin whose lack of experience at this level told in the second half when they had a number of needless wides.
It took Limerick until the 60th minute to lead for the first time.
Dublin had a dream start when Liam Rushe goaled inside 30 seconds following a long-range free from Alan McCrabbe.
David Sweeney put over a superbly taken point and when Alan McCrabbe had a marvelous point from a sideline, Dublin led 1-3 to a single point for Limerick, a free by Gavin O’Mahoney.
O’Mahoney pointed a second free, which was countered by a glorious point by Liam Ryan for Dublin.
A third free by O’Mahoney kept Limerick in touch but Dublin continued to dominate and David Treacy put over a sweetly struck point to make it 1-5 to 0-3.
But a glorious two-minute spell for Limerick saw Paudie McNamara make a great catch from Tomas Brady and McNamara raced through to beat Garry Maguire and within a minute, James Ryan scored a point and the sides were level after seventeen minutes with yet another O’Mahony free.
Dublin edged back in front with David O’Callaghan’s point, which was cancelled out by a free from Andrew O’Shaughnessy.
A superb point from 65 yards by Michael Carton gave Dublin new confidence and goalkeeper Maguire made a marvelous save to deny McNamara a second Limerick goal.
McCrabbe, free, and James Ryan exchanged points before McCrabbe and substitute Shane Durcan had Dublin three points clear again.
Just on half time the game took a dramatic turn. As Paul Browne bore down on the Dublin goal, he was deemed to have been hauled down and the Limerick goalkeeper cracked the penalty to the net to make it level, Limerick 2-7, Dublin 1-10 at the interval.
Dublin also started the second half in style and had two points inside three minutes from McCrabbe and Stephen Hiney.
O’Mahoney’s sideline point for Limerick was cancelled out by a superb point by Ross O’Carroll and then James Ryan and McCrabbe swapped points.
Andrew O’Shaughnessy, free, and David O’Callaghan exchanged points as the tempo stepped up.
Limerick hit the front for the first time on the hour mark but fittingly, it was man of the match Gavin O’Mahony who turned the screw on Dublin with the last three points, a 65, a sideline and a free, to put an end to a gallant run by the Dubs.
Scorers: Limerick: G O’Mahoney, 0-8 (5 f, 2 sidelines, 1 65), A O’Shaughnessy, 0-5 (5f), J Ryan, 0-4, P McNamara, 1-1, B Murray, 1-0.
Dublin: A McCrabbe, 0-8, (7f, 1 sideline), L Rushe, 1-0, D O’Callaghan, 0-2, S Hiney, M Carton, R O’Carroll, L Ryan, D Sweeney, D Treacy, S Durcan, 0-1 each
Dublin: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, S Hiney (capt); M O’Brien, J Boland, M Carton; J McCaffrey, A McCrabbe; R O’Carroll, L Ryan, D Sweeney; D O’Callaghan, L Rushe, D Treacy.
Subs used: S Durcan for McCaffrey, 28, K Flynn for Ryan, 49, P Carton for O’Carroll, 55.
Limerick: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan; G O’Mahony, B Geary, M Foley (capt); D O’Grady, S Hickey; J Ryan, D Breen, W McNamara; A O’Shaughnessy, P McNamara.
Subs used: O Moran for W McNamara, 31 mins
Referee, Michael Wadding, Laois.
