Dublin 0-14 Limerick 1-10:Dublin manager Paul Caffrey breathed a sigh of relief at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday as his charges just about recorded their first league victory thanks to Tomás Quinn's winning point in injury time.
Responding to the outcome of a close match against 9 to 2 outsiders Limerick that was on a knife-edge before and after substitute Quinn kicked what proved the winning point in the first minute of additional time, Caffrey was philosophical.
"A win is a win. Some of the lessons we learned last week against Tyrone were important today. National League games take on a life in themselves. We showed great character to edge out a one-point win," he said.
When asked if he was worried that Limerick created a number of goal chances he said: "It's February. Ye journalists do enough worrying for all of us."
Caffrey added: "All of these National League matches are going to be tight."
When Dublin last met Limerick in the National League in 1993 Charlie Redmond scored five points in a 0-15 to 0-9 win. On Saturday Quinn's contribution of four points, including the crucial last-gasp 45, proved crucial.
Dublin started as though they were going to steamroll the home side into the ground, scoring a point a minute during the opening three.
Limerick's midfielder John Galvin then began to play a major role, winning vital possession to help turn the tide. He then set up Darren Horan for a superb 25th-minute goal. This score, the highlight of the first half, followed Maurice Reidy's point moments earlier.
These two impressive scores in quick succession left Limerick trailing by the minimum margin after they had earlier trailed 0-7 to 0-2. Only one point separated the teams at the break, 0-9 to 1-5.
Limerick wing back Pat Ahern levelled matters shortly after the resumption before the introduction of substitute Quinn began to reap significant rewards for the visitors.
By this time Galvin's influence had waned, notably following the switch of Ross McConnell to police the influential Limerick man. Garret Noonan, a late Limerick substitute, added to the drama to level the scores at 0-13 to 1-10 with a mighty effort from a 45.
Stephen Cluxton had perhaps one of his busiest days for quite some time between the Dublin posts. He produced one splendid save when parrying right-handed a shot from Pa Ranahan over the bar for a point.
Limerick manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan was pleased with his team's display. "We created 16 scoring chances in the first half alone and got the opportunity for more goals. We did not pull the trigger and offload it unfortunately," he added.
O'Sullivan rued the situation the previous weekend when his side was denied an opening match against Fermanagh in Clones because of fog. "This was a disadvantage for us," he said.
Caffrey, meanwhile, expressed concern for Diarmuid Connolly who sustained a shoulder injury with an important under-21 match looming next weekend.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, N O'Shea, D Henry; P Casey, B Cullen, G Brennan; D Magee (0-2), R McConnell; D Murray, A Brogan (0-1), D Connolly (0-1, free); D O'Callaghan (0-3), K Bonner, C Keaney (0-3, one free). Subs: T Quinn (0-4, one free, one 45) for Connolly, B Brogan for Murray, D Lally for Bonner, C Goggins for O'Shea, C Moran for Keaney.
LIMERICK: M Jones; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Ahern (0-1), P Browne, P Ranahan (0-2); T Cahill, J Galvin; J O'Brien (0-1), J Ryan, J Cooke; M Crowley (0-1), D Horan (1-1), M Reidy (0-3). Subs: G Noonan (0-1, 45) for Cooke, B Cronin for Crowley, A Lane for Carroll.
Referee: M Collins (Cork).
