Limerick 2-16 Offaly 4-10: SHANE DOOLEY was the central player in this dramatic contest which finished in controversy at the Gaelic Grounds.

Dooley had a penalty saved four minutes into the second half but he made amends when he blasted a similar effort to the net with the last action, which also saw Limerick’s Tom Condon sent off .

Limerick selector John Kiely did not believe a penalty should have been awarded. “In my opinion it was definitely not a penalty. We will study the video and while a draw was a disappointing outcome we will go to Antrim next Sunday full of confidence,” he said.

Points by Conor Allis and Graeme Mulcahy gave Limerick a good start but a goal by Dooley after 13 minutes tied the game.

Limerick managed two goals before the break, the first by Niall Moran. And just on half-time substitute Seán Tobin scored a super goal. That left Limerick 2-6 to 1-7 in front at the interval.

Limerick opened up their 2-12 to 1-9 advantage with 14 minutes remaining. Ger Healion’s goal brought it back to a point but Mulcahy and Seán O’Brien looked to have scored the insurance points for Limerick only for the late dramatic incident which saw Dooley bring his tally to 2-5.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; W McNamara, D OGrady, G OMahoney; P Browne (0-1), J Ryan; N Maher (0-1), D Breen (0-2), C Allis (0-4, two frees); G Mulcahy (0-2), N Moran (1-0), T Quaid (0-3). Subs: S Tobin (1-2) for Maher (27 mins), K Downes for Moran (57 mins), S O'Brien (0-1) for Breen (63 mins), M Ryan for T Quaid (70 mins).

OFFALY:J Dempsey; C McDonald, D Kenny, S Wynne; D Morkan, R Hanniffy, D Franks; D Horan (0-1), J Rigney (0-2); J Bergin, C Mahon (1-0), B Murphy (0-2), S Dooley (2-5, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees, 0-1 64, 1 sideline), C Egan, J Mulrooney. Subs: G Healion (1-0) S Coughlan for Egan and Wynne (half-time), T Carroll for Mulrooney (49 mins), S Ryan for Rigney (57 mins), E Murphy for Hanniffy (70 mins).

Referee:C McAllister (Cork).