Limerick scored an 88th-minute equaliser to hold Championship side MK Dons to a 1-1 draw at Markets Field in a pre-season friendly this evening.

The visitors had the first real opening of the match inside 10 minutes when Darren Potter and Dean Lewington combined to find Ben Reeves in the middle, only for the keeper to save the subsequent effort.

There was nothing the keeper could do about the opening goal shortly after the half-hour mark, however, as Lewington's free kick took a deflection on its way in to break the deadlock.

Limerick, who are 10 points adrift at the bottom of their domestic league, almost came up with an immediate response when Ian Turner intercepted a Joe Walsh pass and drove into the box, but David Martin stuck out a leg to make the save.

The Dons were inches away from doubling their advantage early in the second half when Jordan Spence reached the byline and sent a cross in towards Dale Jennings, who saw his effort come back off the crossbar.

The second half was disrupted by a host of changes from either side, but Dean Bowditch almost added a second for the visitors with six minutes left when he curled a shot just past the far post.

Limerick went straight up the other end and almost levelled things up a minute later, only to be denied by a fine Cody Cropper save from point-blank range.

The hosts would not have to wait much longer for the equaliser, however, as they restored parity with just two minutes remaining when Dean Clarke fired an effort into the top corner having broken through the Dons defence.

There was no way back for the newly-promoted Championship outfit after that as they were forced to settle for just a point against their Irish opponents.