Senior hurlers stage brilliant comeback to defeat Limerick

DUBLIN 1-17 LIMERICK 1-16

Ger Cunningham's Dubs staged a stirring comeback to defeat Limerick in Saturday evening's All-Ireland SHC Round 2 qualifier at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Dublin now face Waterford in two weeks' time in their All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

Dublin trailed by 1-8 to 0-3 late in the opening half and it should have been a lot more as they failed to find any flow to their hurling and looked destined to make their exit of the summer of 2015.

However, inspired by Paul Ryan Dublin began to edge their way back into the game in the concluding six minutes of the opening half.

The Ballyboden St Enda's sharpshooter, who finished with a personal tally of 0-12 (0-6f), fired over two frees and another from play from a difficult angle and before the break Mark Schutte reduced the gap further to 0-7 to 1-8 following good work from two of Dublin's other heroes of the day Daire Plunkett and Liam Rushe.

Crucially Dublin maintained their momentum on the restart with Ryan striking five unanswered points to see Dublin forge into a 0-12 to 1-8 lead by the 42nd minute.

Dublin were not playing with a lot more determination and team play typified by Ryan's 40th minute point from play after the combined heart of Conal Keaney and Ryan O'Dwyer ultimately resulted in Dublin winning back possession and scoring form a position where Limerick should have been in control.

But the Shannonsiders eventually awoke form their slumber as points from Seánie Tobin (two frees, one from play) after Shane Dowling had brought the sides level with a free had Limerick a goal to the good, 1-12 to 0-12 after 53 minutes.

With the game in 'the melting pot' Dublin twice when close to goaling. Daire Plunkett fired over close to goals after a terrific run through the middle of the Limerick defence and playing a one-two with Mark Schutte and then in the 58th minute Nickie Quaid denied David O'Callaghan and the Munster side went downfield for Graeme Mulcahy to point - LImerick 1-13 Dublin 0-14.

Dublin's vital goal came in the 62nd minute when David O'Callaghan loitered with intent behind the LImerick cover as Shane Durkin's long delivery dropped for him to sweep to the net. He took a gamble, got lucky and the net rattled.

in a pulsating close to the game Liam Rushe dominated the aerial exchanges across his entire half-back and was instrumental in Dublin's comeback and success as he drove the team forward and blunted the Limerick attack.

Sub Cian Boland clipped an important points while Man of the Match Paul Ryan underlined his deadly accuracy with one final point to make it 1-17 to 1-15.

Dublin lost Chris Crummey to a second yellow card and Seánie Tobin converted a late free but Dublin were on their way to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.

SCORERS - Dublin: P Ryan 0-12 (0-6f), D O’Callaghan 1-0, D Plunkett 0-2, R O’Dwyer, M Schutte, C Boland 0-1 each. Limerick: S Tobin 0-6 (0-5f), S Dowling 0-4 (2 ‘65, 2f) D Breen 1-0, G Mulcahy, D Hannon (0-1f) 0-2 each, P O’Brien, K Downes.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Schutte, C Crummey, S Barrett; S Durkin, L Rushe, N Corcoran; D Plunkett, J McCaffrey; E Dillon, R O’Dwyer, D Sutcliffe; P Ryan, C Keaney, M Schutte. Subs: D O’Callaghan for Dillon (29), J Boland for Corcoran (50), C Boland for Keaney (58), D Treacy for M Schutte (65 inj).

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S O’Brien, R McCarthy, S Hickey; P O’Brien, G O’Mahony, W McNamara; J Ryan, P Browne; G Mulcahy, D Breen, C Lynch; S Dowling, K Downes, D Hannon. Subs: D Morrissey for McNamara (43), S Tobin for Dowling (43), D O’Grady for Breen (55), D Reify for Hannon (65), C King for Browne (69).

ATTENDANCE: 25,245.

REF: C McAllister (Cork).