Limerick FC miss chance to go top of Division 1

LIMERICK FC missed a glorious opportunity to go top of the Airtricity League Division 1 this weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by Waterford Utd in the RSC.

For the third time this season, Pat Scully’s side lost to Waterford and this time it was particularly costly. With Longford Town only drawing with Athlone Town on Saturday night it meant Limerick missed the chance to go top.

The Blues actually took the lead midway through the opening half when Denis Behan struck for a sweet goal but Limerick failed to build on the early advantage and two second-half headed goals from Peter White and Dylan Mernagh secured all three points for Waterford.

They stay in third place, four points behind Limerick. And with second playing third at the end of the season in a promotion play-off, Waterford would certainly fancy their chances against Limerick if things stay the way they are.

Day-long torrential rain had cast a shadow of doubt over whether or not this game would take place but thankfully for both sets of players and fans, club officials insisted that there had never been any genuine doubts, and the pitch held up admirably.

The first half produced one notable moment: the opening goal. Shane Tracy displayed remarkable control and a change of pace as he left Paul Carey in his wake, before his low cut-back and came back off a couple of bodies and dropped nicely for Denis Behan to wallop past Packie Holden from all of 14 yards.

For Limerick, though, that was as good as things got.

On 54 minutes, Waterford looked to have found the crucial equaliser but an excellent aerial save from Barry Ryan denied a headed effort from David Breen. The Blues would not be denied though, and from the resulting corner Peter White nodded home Gary Dempsey’s near-post delivery to equalise.

Waterford now began to enjoy arguably their best spell of football thus far this season, pushing their opponents deeper and deeper as they calmly probed for a winning goal. In worsening conditions it was still proving incredibly difficult to create genuine openings. The blueprint had already been drawn however, and on 65 minutes Dempsey once more curled over a corner and this time young defender Dylan Mernagh took his turn to head home.

Limerick pushed hard for the goal that would give them a draw but the home side did enough to hold out.

WATERFORD UTD - Packie Holden; Paul Carey, Craig Burns, David Breen, Dylan Mernagh; Peter Higgins, Gary Dempsey, Peter White, Paul Phelan; Peter Keegan, Sean Maguire. Subs: Jack Doherty for Phelan (60 mins), Conor Coad for Dempsey (92 mins)

LIMERICK FC - Barry Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Corie Tracey, Shane Guthrie, Shane Tracy; Garry Sheahan, Stephen Bradley, Stephen McGann, David O’Leary; Rory Gaffney, Denis Behan. Subs: Joe Gamble for McGann (65 mins), Dominic Foley for Sheahan (72 mins), Jeffrey Judge for Bradley (79 mins)

REFEREE - K Callanan (Cork).