The shock return of Ciaran Carey to Limerick colours was almost spoiled by battling Meath in this entertaining game at Kilmallock yesterday.

Manager Eamonn Cregan, still getting over the shock of the 14point midweek defeat by Clare, had seven changes in personnel, but was none the wiser at the end.

Meath trailed by just six points at the break, 1-9 to 1-3, having played into the wind.

Pat Tobin goaled for the home side in 18 minutes but that was cancelled out by Kevin Dowd. Limerick, who had shot 13 first-half wides, saw Fergus Mahon eat into their lead with a string of points and Meath were just two in arrears entering the final 10 minutes.

Carey, who had scored a point with his first touch of the ball, prevented an embarrassing defeat when he got in the way of a Fergus Mahon shot that looked goal-bound.

Limerick: A Shanahan; D Reale, D Ryan, C Smith; D McInerney, C Carey (0-1), W Walsh; J Meskell, J Moran; P O'Grady (0-2), O Moran (0- 1), P Tobin (1-3); O O'Neill (0-2), B Begley (0-1), B Foley (0-4). Subs: J Foley for J Moran; M Foley for Walsh; M Keane (0-3) for Begley; J Butler (0- 1) for R Mescal; TJ Ryan for McInerney.

Meath: M Gannon; A O'Neill, D Murray, B Perry; C Kenna, P Donnelly, D Reilly; T Reilly, J Canty; K Dowd (1-0), F Mahon (0-8) R Dorran (0- 1); N Reilly (0-1), P Potterton (0-3), G Cole (0-1), Subs: N Horan (0-2) for N Reilly; D Troy for Cole.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).