Limerick survive Dublin challenge

Dublin 3-08 Limerick 3-14

Dublin slumped to their 11th straight defeat in 12 months of competititve hurling as Limerick picked off a 3-14 to 3-08 NHL Division One relegation section win at Parnell Park.

Humphrey Kelleher's Metropolitans looked to be right in at the break, trailing 2-03 to 0-10 with a wind advantage to come. Yet two Limerick goals from James O'Brien and Michael Cahill in the space of two second-half minutes saw the visitors win out.

With TJ Ryan switched from full-back to full-forward, Limerick hit four points in the opening four minutes.

David Curtin kept the Dubs ticking with frees before Manus Breathnach - netting with an overhead strike - and Emmett Carroll both goaled to give the home side a 2-02 to 0-07 deficit on 22 minutes.

It was back all-square before Andrew O'Shaughnessy pointed late on for a one-point buffer for the Treatymen.

On 39 minutes, Ryan added to Gary Maguire's woes as the Dublin goalkeeper conceded his 16th goal of the league campaign.

Limerick pushed on 1-12 to 2-05 in front before Kelleher's side got back level again.

Breathnach, the scorer of three goals against Down last week, bagged another green flag from an overhead shot. Ronan Fallon, who was in action for Dublin's Under-21 footballers last night, then squared it up with a 30-metre point.

Almost immediately though, O'Brien and Cahill struck to push Limerick six in front at 3-12 to 3-06.

Curtin traded late scores with O'Shaughnessy and Donie Ryan but the verdict was already settled and Dublin are staring at the drop.