League Report: Limerick 1 - 2 Dundalk

Goals from Brian Gartland and Darren Meenan fired Dundalk to a vital 2-1 win over Limerick at Thomond Park.

Gartland had given the Lilywhites the lead, which was cancelled out by a Shane Tracy penalty and although Towell missed from the spot himself, Meenan struck late for the points.

The Limerick start was a good one, welcoming back some of the more senior squad members to the fold, and that certainly showed early doors at a sunny Thomond Park.

Rory Gaffney, scorer of five goals against The Town in 2014, flicked down for Shane Tracy who brought a smart low save out of Peter Cherrie and then Gaffney himself headed over after Tracy teed him up when he should have did so much better.

The Galway native then sent a simmering shot whizzing past Cherrie’s post with the goalkeeper a virtual spectator and with Limerick looking the likelier to open the scoring, it was perhaps typical of their season so far that Dundalk opened the scoring with their first chance of the match.

Richie Towell sent an intelligent free kick to the back post where Dane Massey was waiting. The full-back headed across goal where Gartland was waiting and after defensive uncertainty, he rammed the ball home for a priceless lead.

It did not deter the hosts too much, Tracy curling a free kick over the top of the bar when he should have did better and then the ex-Arsenal man rolling a tame one into the arms of Cherrie as his side looked for a way back into it.

They got it too on 31 minutes when Danny Galbraith nudged the ball past Gartland in the box and went over the defender’s leg in the box, leading to the award of a spot kick.

The Dundalk defence looked visibly perplexed by the decision but the furore failed to intimidate Tracy who stepped up and stroked effortlessly into the corner to give his side the equaliser.

Just before half time, they almost had themselves in front too but Jason Hughes’ quality curling effort was met by an even better save from Cherrie, managing to tip over by his fingernails to leave the scores level at half time.

Dundalk came out with something of the urgency that had been lacking in the first half and were offered a way back into the match when Shaun Kelly was adjudged to have handled Kurtis Byrne’s shot leading Neil Doyle to award his second penalty of the night.

Ryan looked to give Towell more of the goal to aim at on his right and the midfielder aimed to oblige him by sending the ball for that side but the wily netminder got across to make the save.

He was called upon again shortly afterwards to deny Darren Meenan’s shot on the spin and just about managed to scramble to keep it out against an ever improving Dundalk, on top far more than they had been in the first.

Meenan then sent a sweet ball in from the right that was met be an acrobatic attempt from Hoban but once more Ryan saved. Time after time they tried and the veteran was always on hand to make the stop.

Just under 15 minutes from time, he was helpless to prevent Meenan as Dundalk were rewarded for their second half endeavour. Substitute David McMillan sent a cross spinning to the back post where Meenan stole in unmarked to ram home.

No offside flag was raised despite the suspicions and the winger wheeled away in wild celebration. As Limerick flooded bodies forward for the equaliser, they almost got stung on the counter.

Daryl Horgan sped away as only he can before teeing up Towell to his left and the former Celtic man’s shot was good but again his nemesis Ryan was better, managing to divert it onto the outside of the post.

Limerick: Barry Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Tony Whitehead, Stephen Folan, Robbie Williams; Shane Tracy (James McGrath 66), Prince Agyemang, Shane Duggan (c) (Tam McManus 78), Jason Hughes, Danny Galbraith (Darragh Rainsford 90); Rory Gaffney.
Subs not used: Shane Cusack (gk), Patrick Nzuzi, Michael Leahy, Kieran Hanlon.

Booked: Hughes (25), Agyemang  (91)

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (Ruaidhri Higgins 88), Daryl Horgan; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 73).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Keith Ward, Marc Griffin, David McMillan, Simon Kelly, Mark Rossiter.

Booked: None.

Referee: Neil Doyle

Attendance: 784

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Chris Shields (Dundalk)