Limerick snatched a late win at Casement Park yesterday in Div 1A to brush past Antrim thanks to a rally near the end.

The visitors had to play second fiddle to a new-look Antrim side which had only four players from last year's debacle against Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final but there was a freshness and commitment about them which Limerick, also missing a number of former regulars, found hard to cope with for long periods.

It was a goal by newcomer Dave Stapleton three minutes from time which turned the tide in the visitor's favour.

Seeing victory snatched from their grasp in the closing stages was bitter disappointment for Antrim's defence but they ran out of steam.

In the first half Antrim, playing against the wind, had forced the pace. They went ahead in the fifth minute with a goal from Aidan Mort, which wiped out an early point, from a free, by Barry Foley. Indeed, it was Foley who kept Limerick in touch with his expert free-taking.

Sean Kelly had put Antrim three points up from a miraculous sideline puck but Michael O'Brien, who had been switched out to centre forward from the edge of the square, and Foley had the teams tied at 1-4 to 0-7 on the half-hour.

Kelly put Antrim ahead but Foley pointed from another free to level the scores, 1-5 to 0-8, at the break.

The sides were level again five times in the second half. It was 1-8 to 0-11 after 45 minutes and 30 seconds later it looked as if Antrim were about to pull away.

A tremendous three-man forward surge found Conor Cunning clear to sweep the ball home. However Limerick rifled over three points inside the next six minutes.

Jim Connolly restored Antrim's lead but it was evident that the home team was tiring. The turning point came three minutes from time when Stapleton struck. Substitute Johnny McIntosh grabbed a consolation goal for Antrim.

ANTRIM: R Matthews; E O'Hara, O Colgan, O McCloskey; M Molloy (0-1), Gary O'Kane (0-1), K Kelly; C Magee, C Cunning (1-1); A Mort (1-0), J Connolly (0-2), C Hamill (0-1); S Kelly (0-2), Greg O'Kane (0-3), B McFall. Subs: A McCloskey for S Kelly (55 mins), J McIntosh (1-0) for Mort (60 mins).

LIMERICK: J Quaid; S McDonagh, T J Ryan, D Ryan; J Foley, O Moran (0-1), M Foley; C Smyth, S O'Neill (0-1); J Moran (0-2), T O'Loughlin, M Keane; D Stapleton (1-1), M O'Brien (0-2), M Foley (0-9). Subs: J Butler (0-3) for McLoughlin (half-time), D Hennessy for Keane (57 mins), B Geary for O Moran (56 min).

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).