Senior hurlers lose out to Limerick in quarter-final

LIMERICK 1-21 DUBLIN 1-19

Dublin's hopes of a NHL Division 1 title were extinquished on Saturday night in Parnell Park as they lost out to TJ Ryan's Limerick by two points.

A late, late goal by David Treacy was merely of cosmetic consolation to the Dubs as they trailed by five points deep into injury-time on a frustrating night for Ger Cunningham's side.

Limerick led 0-13 to 0-9 at the interval but Dublin did improve in the second half and drew level by the 14th minute, 0-15 each, of the second half thanks to points from Niall McMorrow, David Treacy (free), Darragh O'Connell, two further Treacy frees and a fine point by David O'Callaghan.

However, the game turned back Limerick's way over the subsequent five minutes.

In the 52nd minute David Treacy had his penalty effort saved by Limerick keeper Nickie Quaid and then two minutes later Limerick full-forward Kevin Downes punished some indecision in the backline to fire past Conor Dooley to see the Shannonsiders establish a four-point lead, 1-16 to 0-15.

Over the course of the game Limerick, boosted for this clash by the return of their Na Piarsaigh contingent following their successful All-Ireland club adventure, were the more direct whereas Limerick's wing-back Ronan Lynch did an excellent job in the sweeper role to blunt many long deliveries out of the Dublin defence.

Dublin did open with the first score of the game - a David Treacy free but in the seventh minute Eamonn Dillon's rasping drive was stopped  Nickie Quaid.

It was a portent of what was to follow as Dublin failed to create many goal chances and as the half wore on Limerick grew in confidence and were full value for their half-time advantage with Shane Dowling contributed five first half points, including four frees.

Eamonn Dillon did strike two impressive first half points for the Dubs but found himself outnumbered by the Limerick defence on several occasions which made for a difficult evening's work for the Dublin attack.

Points on the restart from Niall McMorrow, David Treacy (free) and the pacey Darragh O'Connell from long range lifted Dublin's hopes before a Shane Dowling '65' broke their chain of scores.

But with just over 20 minutes remaining Dublin had drawn level and looked in a good position to strike for victory.

But the missed penalty was compounded by Kevin Downes goal in the 54th minute and from then to the finish Dublin were playing catch-up as they relinquished their Parnell Park record which had not seen them defeated in five years in league action in their games at the Donnycarney venue.

SCORERS - Limerick: S Dowling 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 '65'), K Downes 1-2; D Byrnes 0-3, T Morrissey, B Nash, G O'Mahony 0-2, P Browne, R Lynch (0-1f), J Fitzgibbon, P O'Brien 0-1. Dublin: D Treacy 1-8 (0-8f), N McMorrow 0-4, E Dillon 0-3, D O'Connell 0-2, F McGibb, D O'Callaghan 0-1.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S O'Brien, R McCarthy, R English; D Byrnes, W McNamara, G O' Mahony; P Browne, J Ryan; R Lynch, B Nash, T Morrissey; G Mulcahy; K Downes, S Dowling. Subs: P O'Brien for McNamara (51), G Hegarty for Mulcahy (53), J Fitzgibbon for Dowling (59), C Lynch for Morrissey (65).

DUBLIN: C Dooley; E O'Donnell, C O'Callaghan, O Gough; J Madden, L Rushe, C Crummey; D O'Connell, J McCaffrey; S McGrath, N McMorrow, D Treacy; D O'Callaghan, F McGibb, E Dillon. Subs: D Plunkett for McGrath (32), M Schutte for McGibb (48), S Barrett for Madden (59), B Quinn for McCaffrey (66), O O'Rourke for O'Callaghan (67).

REF: B Gavin (Offaly).