Limerick 0-13 Louth 0-14:Limerick squandered a three- point lead midway through the second half and paid the price when Mark Stanfield struck the winning score for Louth after a match at Limerick in which the sides were level seven times.
Stanfield's score came four minutes into stoppage time after Louth manager Eamonn McEneaney had introduced three substitutes between the 44th and 63rd minutes and between them they scored four points in rapid succession to edge their side in front with minutes remaining.
Limerick's Michael Reidy pointed a free in the dying seconds but Stanfield's intervention avoided extra-time in a game which saw five Limerick players and three for Louth were shown yellow cards.
Championship debutant Ger Collins had the opening point for Limerick - he had three in total - but Colm Judge, Martin Farrell and Brian White (free) opened up a two-point lead for the visitors.
It was level at 0-7 each at the interval and as the players left the field several from both sides were involved in a brawl. This led to a player from each side being yellow carded when the teams re-appeared for the second half.
Aaron Hoey had the first point on the resumption but Limerick pushed into their three-point lead and a superb save denied Paddy Keenan a goal for Louth. The Louth substitutes had the final say, however, with Darren Clarke grabbing two points and Ronan Carroll another.
LIMERICK: S Kiely; P Ahern, J McCarthy, A Lane; T Cahill, P Browne, P Ranahan; T Carroll (0-1), J Galvin (0-1); G Collins (0-3), J Ryan, S Buckley; M Crowley (0-1, free), D Horan, M Reidy (0-7, six frees). Subs: J Cooke for Horan (66 mins); C Crowley for Collins (69 mins).
LOUTH: S Reynolds; A Page, C Goss, M Fanning; J Neary, P McGinnity, J O'Brien; P Keenan, M Farrelly (0-1); B White (0-2, frees), A Hoey (0-2, one free), M Stanfield (0-2); C Judge (0-1), S Lennon (0-2), JJ Quigley. Subs: S O'Neill (0-1) for Quigley; D Clarke (0-2) for White, J Murray for Judge (both 55 mins); R Carroll (0-1) for Farrelly (63 mins).
Referee: J Geaney (Cork).
