Limerick FC slip up in title race

LIMERICK FC suffered a setback in their bid for a place in next year’s Premier Division after going down 1-0 at home to Waterford Utd on Friday night.

David Breen’s 88th-minute goal secured the points for the visitors, who have now beaten Limerick in all four of their league meetings this season.

Pat Scully’s team turned in a very disappointing performance in front of a healthy attendance of 843 fans at Jackman Park.

After a stop-start opening few minutes to the game, the first opening fell to Limerick in the 12th minute when Dominic Foley got his head to a trademark Rory Gaffney long throw, only to see Waterford keeper Packie Holden tip it over the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards it was opposition goalie Barry Ryan who was called into action to pull off a great save from Peter Higgins’ volley after a mistake from Joe Gamble gifted possession to the Waterford midfielder.

On 20 minutes the lively Shane Tracy delivered a great cross into Jeffrey Judge, who saw his header kept out by Holden.

Limerick, though, were sloppy in the first half, giving the ball away cheaply on several occasions as Waterford sought to use their considerable pace to hurt the home side.

Gaffney was working hard for Limerick and after 32 minutes his volley briefly had Holden worried, but the ball ultimately flew over the crossbar.

A feisty first half saw two booking and plenty of endeavour, but the quality one could expect from these sides was only on show sporadically.

The second half began with half-chances for either team, Dominic Foley firing an effort over the bar and Ryan being tested a few minutes later at the other end.

Scully made two changes around the hour mark, Derek O’Brien replacing Sean Brosnan just before Stephen Bradley came on for Robert Kluciar, who had been deployed in an unfamiliar role on the right of midfield.

There was a lull in the action midway through the second half, with a long ball game dominating and neither team banging on the door for the opening goal.

On 71 minutes Limerick were dealt a blow when Judge received a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Waterford defender John Frost, who was substituted shortly afterwards for Jamie Cross.

In the immediate aftermath of the sending off, Limerick actually played with more freedom than at any previous stage in the game and with 15 minutes to go they nearly got their noses in front when Tracy’s free kick dipped just over Holden’s crossbar.

After that near miss both teams seemed content with the draw but with only two minutes of normal time remaining, the picture changed dramatically.

A Waterford counterattack was latched onto by substitute Conor Coade, who shot straight at Ryan, but the Limerick goalkeeper couldn’t hold the ball and it fell to Breen, who finished it to the net for the jubilant visitors.

Limerick’s defending for the goal left Scully despondent on the sideline and not even five minutes of added time could spur the home side on to a late siege on their opponent’s goal. Jim McKell’s final whistle was met with boos from the home fans on a bad night for Limerick, although they are still three points clear at the top.

LIMERICK FC – Barry Ryan, Shaun Kelly, Pat Purcell (Capt), Corie Treacy, Shane Tracy, Robert Kluciar (Stephen Bradley 60), Jeffrey Judge, Joe Gamble, Sean Brosnan (Derek O’Brien 57), Rory Gaffney, Dominic Foley (Denis Behan 87).

WATERFORD UNITED – Packie Holden, Dylan Mernagh, David Breen (Capt), Stephen Mulcahy (Paul Carey 20), John Frost (Jamie Cross 75), Jack Doherty, Gary Dempsey, Peter White, Peter Higgins, Sean Maguire, Peter Keegan (Conor Coade 78)

REFEREE – Jim McKell (Tipperary)