Limerick claimed a magnificent 2-6 to 0-9 Round 1B Qualifier victory over Antrim at Corrigan Park.

Seeking a first competitive win in 14 months, John Brudair's charges went into the game as 5/2 outsiders but, shorn of injured captain Iain Corbett,  produced a determined effort to win a low-quality encounter. Victory secures a place in Monday morning's second-round draw, where the Treaty will be paired with either Mayo, Cork, Monaghan or Donegal, or Westmeath or Kildare

Both sides set up defensively from the get-go and it was the visitors who led at the break, 2-2 to 0-6

Playing into the strong breeze, the Shannonsiders made a magnificent start as goals from Ian Ryan and Sean McSweeney (penalty) in the fifth and eighth minutes respectively fired them into a commanding 2-1 to 0-2 lead.

Only five points were scored in the next 27 minutes of a really poor period as the Munster county led by two at the short whistle. Matthew Fitzpatrick and Patrick McBride edged Antrim back within three before Ryan replied only for McBride and Sean Burke to land the last two scores of the half.

A turgid second period produced just seven further scores (and only one from play!), with the visitors grabbing four of those through Stephen Cahill, Ryan (free) and McSweeney (two frees), while goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan made a telling contribution with three outstanding saves.

Corner back Cahill lofted over the first score of the second half on 44 minutes and O'Sullivan denied Martin Johnson before substitute Tomas McCann and Ryan Murray converted Antrim frees to set up a tense finale. O'Sullivan's saves from Johnson and Murray helped restrict the home team to just one further point from a Kevin Niblock free as they exited this year's championship.

Limerick - D O'Sullivan; P Browne, S Cahill (0-1), S O'Dea; B Fanning, J McCarthy, P Ranahan; D Treacy, S Buckley; G Noonan, P Nash, T Childs; S McSweeney (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-3f), I Ryan (1-2, 0-1f), H Bourke. Subs: E Hogan for H Bourke, P Hannon for P Nash, I Corbett for T Childs.

Antrim - C Kerr; K O'Boyle, J Crozier, R Johnson; P McBride (0-2), P Gallagher, M Sweeney; S McVeigh, M McCann; J Laverty, M Fitzpatrick (0-1), K Niblock (0-2, 1f); R Murray (0-2f), N McKeever, S Burke (0-1). Subs: M Johnson for S McVeigh, D McAleese for J Laverty, C Murray for P Gallagher, P McAleer for R Johnson, T McCann (0-1f) for N McKeever, J Carron for S Burke.

Referee - S Hurson.

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