Tommy Barrett made amends for a late missed penalty last week against Dundalk with a cracking 40-yard equaliser as Limerick 37 came from behind to beat Kildare County at Station Road.
It was tough luck on Kildare who were the better side throughout the game. Ciaran Kilduff could feel particularly aggrieved as twice he saw headers beat Dave Ryan only to come back off the post.
Making light of tough week that saw Kildare concede late goals in two games in the space of four days, they started brightly and Kilduff rose highest to head Colin Fortune’s free kick off the post after 18 minutes.
John Ryan’s team deservedly took the lead after 26 minutes when Cathal Brady latched onto John Broderick’s cross and coolly slotted past Ryan.
Kildare couldn’t get the second goal that would have killed off the game and they were shocked when Barrett’s powerful shot left Charlie Treacy a helpless spectator with almost the last kick of the first half.
Paul Donnelly almost got in on the Limerick goal twice in the early stages of the second half before Ryan did well to keep out a stinging Gorman drive.
It had seemed only a matter of time before Kildare went in front, but they were caught against the run of play when substitute Ross Cosgrave burst down the right and crossed for James Hayes to head home from close range.
Kilduff hit the woodwork for a second time with 13 minutes left but as Kildare pushed forward it was Limerick who had the better chances in the closing stages Willie Bruton, Ross Cosgrave or Brendan Daly could have added to the winner’s tally late on.
Kildare County: Treacy; Clarke, Clancy (Robinson 72), Roach, Brophy; Broderick (Mooney 59), Donnelly, Fortune, Brady; Gorman, Kilduff.
Limerick 37: Ryan; Whyte, Cleary, Danaher, Barrett; Hayes, Grant (Fogarty 52), Daly, Manjor (Curtin 87); McCarthy (Cosgrave 63), Bruton.
Referee: D. Coombes (Dublin).
