NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1A LIMERICK 1-10 DUBLIN 0-14

SO, Dublin end up in another one-point game, except this time on the right side of it.

They barely deserved to, and only for Tomás Quinn, they wouldn't have either.

As the game entered injury time, with the sides level, Dublin were awarded a 45, a dead ball situation similar to the one Mark Vaughan had towards the death of last year's All Ireland semi-final, and Conal Keaney had in Croke Park last week. On each of those occasions, Quinn was on the bench. Yesterday he was not, coming off it just before half-time to replace his subdued clubmate Diarmuid Connolly, and he iced that 45 like he did to win the 2005 Leinster title. If Paul Caffrey has learned anything from this past two weeks, it's that when a game's in the fire and on the line, Quinn should be in the fire, not by the line.

Yesterday Dublin kicked only five points after the break, all but one from the boot of Quinn.

The result was harsh justice on the home team. Only 1,227 made their way into the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, a whole 80,000 less than that which entered Croke Park yesterday; a measure of Limerick's current stature within their own county and also of the fair-weather nature of the Hill. Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's men deserve to be more than just a friends and relatives team though.

While John Galvin was the only starter yesterday from the standout under-21 team of 2000, they remain dogged, honest and resilient, and while they might lack the flair to win any silverware, they could yet win two games in this section, avoid Division Three, and ambush Cork in Cork in the summer.

Their self-belief was tested early. Dublin blazed into a three-point lead within the first five minutes, David O'Callaghan notching two points from play as John Galvin spoiled some powerful runs with tentative shooting.

Within five minutes, Limerick were back to within a point, with wing forward Jason O'Brien scoring a fine point with the outside of his right boot, but Dublin pressed on again.

After switching Niall O'Shea off full forward Darren Horan, they looked more settled at the back, O'Callaghan continued to look lively, even though on occasion he could have laid off to teammates a tad earlier, while Keaney kicked a wonderful point from out by the 45metre flag.

This Dublin team still lacks a ruthless edge though. It has been said they lack swagger but this isn't the side of 2001.

If anything, the class of '06 and '07 possess too much swagger. It was personified by the display of Connolly.

Before half-time he came off, holding his shoulder, but his withdrawal could have been governed by his performance as well. For all his confidence and class, too often he's too upright in possession and open to being knocked off balance by the kind of well-timed shoulders which Limerick occasionally dished out yesterday.

Limerick penalised that lackadaisical approach. After trailing 0-8 to 0-2, they were on level terms seconds before the break. Mike Crowley tapped over a few frees. In the 26th minute, Horan bundled the ball over the line after a Michael Reidy 45 floated into the square. Then wing back Pa Ranahan cut through the centre to point, equalise and suggest Ger Brady's dominance of Bryan Cullen last August was no aberration.

Dublin did manage to re-take the lead before half-time, 0-9 to 1-5, referee Michael Collins awarding a dubious free which Quinn played short to Darren Magee, who kicked over his second point of the half. It was evident though Dublin had to make adjustments at the break.

They did. Their backs stopped giving away frees, while substitute Bernard Brogan started linking up well with his brother Alan and Quinn, and midway through the half, Dublin were up by three points.

Limerick refused to go away. Although at times their approach play was laboured - like a rugby team rucking and mauling phase after phase to manufacture a dropgoal - it paid off on occasion, like through a fabulous Horan point out by the touchline.

Hanrahan drove through the middle again, forcing Cluxton to fingertip the ball over the bar, then Reidy had another goal chance which ended up raising only a white flag.

At the other end, the younger Brogan's energy was now translating into turnovers instead of scoring chances and when Limerick substitute Gerard Noonan pointed a magnificent 45 as the game entered injury time, Limerick appeared on the verge of a draw.

It wasn't to be the last score or 45 though.

LIMERICK M Jones; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Ahern (0-1), P Browne, P Ranahan (0-2); T Cahill, J Galvin; J O'Brien (01), J Ryan, J Cooke; M Crowley (0-2, 2f), D Horan (1-1), M Reidy (0-2, 1f) Subs S Cronin for Crowley, 51 mins; A Lane for Carroll, 51 mins; G Noonan (0-1, 45) for Cooke, 55 mins;

N Mulvihill for O'Brien, 65 mins; G Collins for Cronin, 69 mins DUBLIN S Cluxton; D Henry, N O'Shea, P Grif"n; P Casey, B Cullen, G Brennan; D Magee (0-2), R McConnell; D Murray, A Brogan (0-1), D Connolly (0-1, f); D O'Callaghan (0-3), K Bonner, C Keaney (0-3, 2f) Subs T Quinn (0-4, 2f, 1 45) for Connolly, 36 mins; B Brogan for Murray, half-time; D Lally for Bonner, 61 mins;

C Goggins for O'Shea, 66 mins; C Moran for Keaney, 70 mins Referee M Collins (Cork)