Limerick moved nine points clear of Bray Wanderers at the bottom as they recorded their first home win in 11 games at the Markets Field.
Bray made two changes to the side that snuck a point against high-flyers Waterford before the break.
Gary McCabe came back into the side which will be seen as a huge boost in the weeks to come, while Jake Kelly finally overcame a long-term knock to take his place in the XI.
Tommy Barrett has been hamstrung by departures due to financial strain at the football club, and he was forced into making four changes.
Daniel Kearns and Mark O’Sullivan have left the club, being replaced by Karl O’Sullivan and Connor Ellis respectively, while Shane Tracy dropped to the bench and Killian Brouder missed out through injury.
Shaun Kelly and Barry Maguire came in in their stead.
Bray struggled to control of the ball early on, but they catch Limerick napping when Daniel Kelly snuck in behind Billy Dennehy, but Gary McCabe blasted his cross over the bar.
However, that threat was quickly responded to as Limerick began their siege on Bray’s right flank through Connor Ellis running into channels and Will Fitzgerald terrorising Sean Harding.
Indeed, it was this avenue that provided the opening goal after just nine minutes.
Maguire took up a position on the inside left. Ellis found him with a lay-off, before Maguire looked up to square.
His pass was deflected, but only into the path of Cian Coleman.
The young Cork native slid the ball into the bottom corner, out of the reach of Bray ‘keeper Evan Moran.
Limerick hadn’t won in any of their last ten home games, but they made the best possible start, albeit at half-pace.
That lead wasn’t long-lived, though.
Both sides operated high lines to their detriment and Limerick were the first to be caught out in behind as a long ball over the top found Shannonside native Ronan Coughlan completely unmarked.
He lobbed over an advancing Clarke to level the scores after just 16 minutes.
However poor Limerick were, Bray were adamant on being worse.
And they would accomplish that after 20 minutes when Connor Ellis picked up possession on the left flank with seemingly little on.
He got a run on Sean Harding and he wasn’t to be caught. He raced into the box and squared for Barry Maguire to tap in, to put Limerick back into the lead.
Bray were starting to lose work ethic and former Blues boss Martin Russell substituted captain Gary McCabe midway through the half.
The Seagulls skipper did not look impressed and exchanged remarks with Russell as he made his way to the bench.
The second half was low-key in the extreme with neither side threatening and a switch to five at the back solidified an otherwise suspect backline.
Russell will now have to provide some of the magic he provided in the 2015 season if Bray are to avoid automatic relegation.
Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Eoin Wearen, Kilian Cantwell, Billy Dennehy; Cian Coleman, Barry Maguire (Shane Tracy, 79); Karl O’Sullivan (Tony Whitehead, 57), Shane Duggan, Will Fitzgerald; Connor Ellis (Danny Morrissey, 66).
Bray Wanderers: Evan Moran; Sean Harding, Rhys Gorman, Sean Heaney, Kevin Lynch; Craig Walsh, Paul O’Conor; Jake Kelly (Ger Pender, 46), Gary McCabe (Conor Kenna, 27), Daniel Kelly; Ronan Coughlan.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath)
