Limerick 1-21
Dublin 1-19
Derek Ryan at Parnell Park
Dublin are out of the Allianz Hurling League.
The Boys in Blue lost their 5-year unbeaten record at Parnell Park this evening, going down to Limerick by 2 points in their quarter final.
Limerick, in truth, deserved their win and were the better side throughout.
It was a busy start to the game, despite it taking 6 minutes for the first score to come.
Limerick started lively and had two early goal chances, both of which came to nothing.
Dublin opened the scoring thanks to a David Treacy free.
Another Treacy free a short time later provided Dublin with their first goal chance of the game.
His placed ball dropped short, with Eamon Dillon claiming the ball and going for goal.
However his shot was well saved by Nickie Quaid in the Limerick goal.
Both sides then kicked into life after a slow start on the scoreboard.
They traded scores and were level at 4 points apiece by the 13th minute.
Limerick started to take control of proceedings after that and moved 3 points clear by the 18th minute, with Shane Dowling impressing in particular for the Treaty men.
Three more Treacy frees kept Dublin in touch, while Eamon Dillon also struck a sweet point from close to the sideline.
But two Limerick scores before half time saw them go in 0-13 to 0-9 ahead at the break.
Dublin started the second half very well and dominated the opening exchanges, hitting 3 points without reply at the start of the half to move within one point of the Treaty Men.
A Dotsy O'Callaghan point drew Dublin level by the 48th minute- but that was as good as it got for Ger Cunningham's men.
The turning point of the game came shortly afterwards.
Eamon Dillon was fouled in the square, so Treacy had a chance from the spot to put Dublin ahead for the first time since the 8th minute.
However, the resulting penalty was saved by Limerick 'keeper Kicky Quaid.
Limerick made that miss all the more costly a short time later, capitalising on a mistake in the Dublin defence to hit the net- Kevin Downes' low strike moving TJ Ryan's men 4 points clear.
That proved to be the crucial score as, try as they might, Dublin couldn't reel Limerick back in in the last 15 minutes.
The replied to the goal with two scores from Dillon and Darragh O'Connell, but Limerick then hit 3 points without reply to move 5 points clear.
The sides traded scores late on, while Treacy finally hit the net for Dublin deep into injury time.
However it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal, as the ref blew up seconds later to confirm Limerick's win on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-19.
