History might have suggested that Dundalk, who had won both of their previous replayed cup encounters with their old rivals Limerick, would have come through this tie at Oriel Park to earn themselves a second-round trip to the Brandywell.

These days, though, the club's glorious history only seems to haunt Jim McLaughlin and his struggling Premier Division side. So, having failed to win a game at home since they shocked St Patrick's six weeks ago, it wasn't too surprising that the home side didn't have what it takes to finish this tie at the second attempt.

Worse than that, they might easily have gone out, for the visitors battled hard throughout and had their fair share of the play and chances. Indeed when the game moved into extra time it was the First Division side who edged it and had Paddy Doyle's finishing been a little more lethal after Tommy Lynch had sent him clear 10 minutes from the end McLaughlin and co would have precious little to distract them from the grim scrap for top-flight survival they face over the coming months.

They still may not after the two teams meet again next Tuesday night at Rathbane.

After a four-goal exchange in the first half of normal time, there was less to cheer about in the second. Neither side created too much of note until after a tussle between Noel Melvin and Derek Whyte had escalated, and both men were sent off for an off-the-ball incident with just over half an hour remaining.

Limerick should have taken the lead for the first time in the 68th minute when their better passing game and stronger running off the ball finally looked to have paid off.

Declan Considine chased Doyle's through-ball down the left-hand side and skipped past Steve Williams who had rushed some 30 yards off his line to attempt the clearance. The midfielder's square ball should have set John Whyte for the goal but he wasn't too keen on taking on what looked a pretty straight-forward opportunity and his attempt to set up Paul Carr was intercepted by Ray Campbell whose touch upset the striker enough to save the day.

Dundalk's best chance to wrap it up inside the 90 minutes followed five minutes later when David Ward stole in ahead of Michael Kerley well inside the Limerick box. The full-back reacted by dragging the teenager back by his sleeve as he lined up his shot but referee Gerry Perry, remarkably enough, decided that a corner was as much as the local youngster deserved.

On each of the occasions during the first half that the home side took the lead, they had threatened to take control of the tie. But Limerick were worth both of their equalisers, their 34th-minute penalty following a prolonged period of pressure during which they had had a string of free-kicks around the area, and Paddy Doyle's 45th minute strike from inside the area rounding off a fine passing move down the left.

That, in fact, had been comfortably the best of the opening half's four goals with the visitors moving the ball well down the flank and Carr getting past Shane Reddish virtually unchallenged before pulling the ball back for his striking partner.

John `Jumbo' Brennan's goals, his first for the club since arriving from Terryland Park before Christmas, were scrappier with poor defending giving the striker a second crack at the first after he had mis-hit his initial shot early on, and Limerick goalkeeper Eddie Hickey's indecision providing the opening for the second which Brennan, under pressure from Hickey and two defenders did well to finish.

Dave Connell's side, whose set-pieces from around the area had been disappointing, had created a handful of other chances from play.

Had Reddish been more restrained when Declan Considine pushed the ball past him in the 34th minute the outcome may well have been the same but the Dundalk full-back made a clumsy challenge instead and Lynch sent Steve Williams the wrong way with the spot kick.

Dundalk: Williams; Reddish, Gallogley, Capper, Brady; Campbell, Thew, Melvin, Crawley; Brennan, Dunne. Subs: Harte for Capper (half-time), Ward for Brennan (63 mins), Martin for Dunne (98 mins).

Limerick FC: Hickey; Kerley, O'Halloran, D Whyte, Finnan; B Ryan, J Whyte, Lynch, Considine; Carr, Doyle. Subs: G Ryan for J Whyte (109 mins), King for Doyle (118 mins).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).