LONGFORD TOWN came from two goals down to earn a point from a six goal thriller with Limerick at Hogan Park yesterday. There were a brace of goals each for Limerick's Garreth Ryan and Longford's Damien Dunleavy but Limerick will feel they threw this one away.

It began well for Billy Kinnane's side, with Ryan tapping in from six yards after good work by Paul Carr and Tony Izzi for the lead goal on 12 minutes. Four minutes later, Limerick seemed well in command when Howard King chipped Aidan Smyth from 30 yards after the goalkeeper had done well to parry Izzi's shot to make it 2-0.

Derek Murray steadied Longford down when pulling a goal back on 26 minutes after Dunleavy had set him up. But Ryan thought he had won it for Limerick with his second.

Dunleavy then came into his own to first punish a mix up and make it 3-2 on 65 minutes and then powered home a header from Murray's corner for the equaliser nine minutes from time.

Pre season favourites Galway United, already in the finals of both the League Cup and Shield, got their First Division campaign off to a winning start against Cobb Ramblers on Saturday night.

In a game made particularly difficult by driving wind and rain, Galway deservedly took the three points thanks to a 44th minute penalty converted by Mark Herrick.

Galway were the better side throughout. Herrick hit a post after only six minutes while Fergal Coelman missed the proverbial sitter on the half hour.