Limerick 2-18 Dublin 1-17:Gavin O'Mahoney played a lead role as Limerick booked their place in the semi-final of the SHC championship after a hard fought 2-18 to 1-17 win over Dublin at Semple Stadium in Thurles.
O’Mahoney scored eight points, including the last three of an enthralling contest, in which the sides were level at the interval thanks to a penalty with the last strike of the half for Limerick’s second goal.
Dublin made by far the better start and enjoyed a first-minute goal by Liam Rushe following a long-range free which bounced in front of Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray to give Rushe the chance for the vital touch.
Alan McCrabbe scored eight points for Dublin but his lack of experience at this level told in the second half when they had too many needless wides.
Limerick had to wait until the 60th minute before they led for the first time.
David Sweeney put over a superbly taken point and when McCrabbe pointed from a sideline cut Dublin were in dreamland as they led 1-3 to 0-1.
O’Mahoney kept the points ticking over for Limerick with a number of well taken frees in the early stages as they struggled to contain Dublin.
Dublin still dominated and David Treacy put over a fine point to make it 1-5 to 0-3.
Limerick, however, refused to lie down and the game changed during a two-minute spell which saw Paudie McNamara make a great catch from Tomas Brady before McNamara raced through to beat Garry Maguire.
Within a minute James Ryan added another point and all of a sudden both sides were level after seventeen minutes after yet another O’Mahony free.
Dublin edged back in front with David O’Callaghan’s point which was negated by a free by Andrew O’Shaughnessy.
A superb point from 65 yards by Michael Carton gave Dublin new confidence and goalkeeper Maguire made a great save to deny McNamara the chance of a second Limerick goal.
McCrabbe and Ryan exchanged further points before McCrabbe and substitute Shane Durcan had Dublin three points clear again.
The game took another dramatic turn just before the break as Paul Browne steamed towards the Dublin goal and was deemed to have been brought down and the Limerick goalkeeper Murray cracked the penalty into the net to bring the sides level, 2-7 to 1-13.
Dublin started the second half well and enjoyed two points inside the opening three minutes from McCrabbe and Stephen Hiney.
O’Mahoney’s sideline point was negated by a superb point by Ross O’Carroll and then Ryan and McCrabbe swapped further points as did O’Shaughnessy and O’Callaghan.
Limerick went ahead for the first time on the hour mark but it was man-of-the-match O’Mahoney who turned the screw on Dublin with the last three points of the game. First up was a wonderful 65, a sideline and a free to put an end to Dublin’s fine run.