Gillane runs riot for Limerick as Dublin made to pay penalty
AARON GILLANE hit 1-9 as Limerick secured another crucial victory against Dublin to keep their promotion hopes alive at the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick make the trip to Pearse Stadium next month for a clash with the reigning All-Ireland champions Galway, and that looks like a Division 1B decider at this stage.
John Kiely’s men were desperate to keep up the momentum here and once Gillane scored from a penalty in the opening half they held a 1-13 to 0-7 half-time lead.
Gillane scored two further points in the second half before he was hauled off with 22 minutes to go.
John Kiely was afforded the opportunity to test his full squad and Dublin limped to their second defeat of the campaign. Limerick had wins over Laois and Offaly in the opening rounds since they secured the Munster Hurling League title.
Dublin had a dreadful start to the campaign when they lost to Offaly but they edged out Antrim in round two.
Limerick began well and Tom Morrissey starred, with two points in the first and second minutes.
Dublin full-forward Cian Boland hit back in the third minute, but Morrissey continued to thrive up front and he drew a free from a clingy Dublin rearguard.
Gillane had scored 1-8 in Limerick’s win over Offaly and tapped over his first free in the sixth minute. The teams went point for point momentarily but Limerick soon began to take a stranglehold once again.
David Reidy doubled his points tally for the day, and Limerick were two clear again before Gillane dragged them out of touch towards the end of the half.
Gillane was unerring from the placed ball, and scored his third point from a free in the 19th minute – Gearoid Hegarty made it double scores at 0-8 to 0-4.
Diarmaid Byrnes was on target next with a massive effort for the home side and then in the 23rd minute came Gillane’s goal from a penalty. It was the crucial score of the half and arrived after Flanagan made a run through the heart of the Dublin defence.
His pass found Barry Murphy in space, he was fouled by Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan, and Gillane stepped up to finish his penalty low into the bottom right corner.
Donal Burke added two frees for Dublin but they couldn’t keep up with their hosts and Limerick, who are now in their eighth successive season in the second tier, held a nine-point lead at half-time.
Dublin needed to score first at the start of the second half and Donal Burke obliged with his fourth free. But that was cancelled out by Gillane again, and then Tom Morrissey piled on the misery.
Gearoid Hegarty scored twice and the Dublin heads dropped with Limerick winning all of the personal battles. Gillane made it 1-9 for the day before John Kiely brought him off for a deserved rest. His replacement Pat Ryan could have scored a goal in the 52nd minute but his shot blazed over, but that score gave Limerick an insurmountable 15-point lead. Dublin were looking to win the second half after they made a raft of half-time substitutes but Limerick were just too good and their bench impressed as well, with Richie McCarthy getting a big ovation when he was introduced for Seamus Hickey.
Sutcliffe finished with five points for Dublin, and Burke scored six, but up the other end the Limerick forwards roamed freely.
Nolan did well to prevent Reidy scoring a second Limerick goal but Barry O’Connell added another point shortly after and Limerick made it three wins from three.