GAELIC GAMES/Limerick 2-14 Cavan 0-15:PA RANAHAN'S goal minutes from the end of normal time guaranteed Limerick their first win of the campaign against Cavan at the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick led by double scores at half-time, 0-10 to 0-5, but two early points by former Dublin All-Ireland under-21 winner Gareth Smith – one from a 45 – put only a goal between them. But the goal fell to Limerick after 46 minutes when Stephen Kelly raced past four defenders and slammed the ball to the net. Again the visitors rallied and points by Martin Cahill, and substitutes Eugene Keating and David Givney left only three points between them.

With five minutes left Cavan had drawn level but a pointed free by Ger Collins edged Limerick in front again. However they had to wait until two minutes from the end of normal time to wrap it up. By that stage they led by a Ger Collins free but a lay-off by James Kelly sent Ranahan clear and he beat James Reilly. Two more points followed from Collins (free), and Ian Ryan with Seán Johnston getting a point from a free in between the Limerick brace.For Limerick it was a big step away from relegation worries.

LIMERICK: B Scanlon; M Riordan, S Gallagher, L O’Dwyer; J Riordan, J McCarthy, P Ranahan (1-0); T Lee, J Galvin; E O’Connor (0-1), S Kelly (1-0), S Buckley (0-1); G Collins (0-5, frees), J Mullane (0-1), I Ryan (0-4, 0-1 free). Subs: M Sheehan (0-1) for O’Dwyer (7 mins), E Hogan for Mullane (55 mins), J Cooke (0-1) for O’Connor (61 mins).

CAVAN: J Reilly; A Clarke, D Sheridan, S Jordan; M McKeever, J McCutcheon (0-1), M Cahill (0-2); R Cullivan (0-1), P O’Reilly; R Flanagan, G Smith (0-3, 0-1 45), K Fannin (0-1); C Mackey (0-2), M Brennan, S Johnston (0-3, frees). Subs: D Dowd for Clarke (31 mins), E Keating (0-1) for Fannin (half-time), D Givney (0-1) for Brennan (half-time), M Lyng for McKeever (56 mins).

Referee: M Collins (Cork).