A RARE Croke Park Senior Football Championship appearance for Limerick was denied by a late match-winning goal from Laois in a lively Tailteann Cup quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds.
Mark Fitzgerald’s side appeared firmly on course for semi-final qualification only for a horrendous mix-up in defence that gifted the visitors a goal (Colm Murphy) in the closing few minutes.
The 1-14 to 0-14 victory was sealed in stoppage time when goalkeeper Killian Roche – who made several cracking saves throughout the contest – floated over a lovely point from a dead ball situation, much to the delight of the modest travelling support in an overall attendance of around 1,200.
Limerick, who led 0-10 to 0-9 at the break, failed to trouble the umpires for the closing 20-odd minutes of the fixture.
In the opening-half, Limerick trio Cillian Fahy, Barry Coleman, and Hugh Bourke were all denied goals by an unbeatable Roche.
The game finished in lashing rain, accompanied by frightening clap of thunder.
James Naughton (0-5), Bourke (0-4), and Cian Sheehan (0-2) accounted for the bulk of the Limerick scores.
Laois, beaten finalists last season, will now be part of a Tailteann double-header at Croke Park next Sunday.
Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan; Jim Liston, Séan O’Dea, Mike Donovan; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher; Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy; Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Colm McSweeney; James Naughton, Hugh Bourke, Darragh Murray.
Subs: David Connolly, Robbie Bourke, Tony McCarthy, Adrian Enright, Davey Lyons, Tommy Griffin.
