League Report: Waterford United 2 - 5 Limerick FC

Aaron Greene notched his third and fourth goals of Limerick’s First Division campaign as Martin Russell’s side swept away Waterford United in a one sided affair at the RSC on Friday night.

Limerick produced a dominant display on the south coast which gave every indication that the men from the ‘Treaty City’ will be the team to beat in the First Division as they dispatched the home team with ease.

It was Waterford United’s second consecutive below par first half performance and this effectively cost them the three points on offer.

The rain came down on cue as referee David Keeler of Cork gave the signal for the match to begin. The first chance went to the visitors when Robbie Buckley hacked down Garbhan Coughlan as he stormed towards the Blues penalty area just three minutes into proceedings.

Buckley earned himself a caution for the challenge and Stephen Kenny had his strike from the set piece saved by Corey Chambers in the Waterford goal. Chambers was to have a busy night ahead of him.

The opening goal of the game came on 19 minutes.  Referee Keeler awarded a corner kick to Limerick following a Greene strike from inside the box which appeared to go directly wide of United’s goal without a touch from a defending player.

Shane Tracy delivered the corner kick and Robbie Williams lost his marker in the box to power home a headed effort low into the host's net.

Four minutes later Chambers was called back into action to tip a fine Chris Mulhall effort from the edge of the penalty area over his crossbar and away for a corner kick to keep the scoreline at 1-0.  

Next James O’Brien, who impressed on the night for Waterford, had the ball in the net when Keeler ruled him to have strayed offside in a very tight call. Five minutes from the break United found themselves 2-0 down.

Kenny controlled a long cross field ball from Shane Tracy out on the right wing and cut past two United defenders before unleashing a shot which Chambers was only able to parry to the feet of Greene to tap home from close range.

For the second week in a row Waterford were dealt a blow on the stroke of half time. Ian Sinnott and Shane Mackey were unable to deal with the relentless Limerick attack and the ball broke to substitute Paul O’Conor, who had replaced Limerick captain Shane Duggan only minutes earlier.

O’Conor unleashed an unstoppable effort from 30 yards out which swerved past the hapless Chambers to all but wrap the points up for the Shannonsiders with just 45 minutes played.

Roddy Collins rang the changes at half time and introduced both Aaron O’Connor and Dylan Maguire for Sean Byrne and Jimmy Dermody. The changes seemed take an effect on the Waterford performance in the second half.

They contained the attacking threats of Limerick before the game opened up in the final quarter.  Kenny sent a perfect cross from the bye line onto the head of an unmarked O’Conor with fifteen minutes remaining and he buried his effort to make the scoreline 4-0.

Lee J. Lynch and John O’Flynn wasted good chances to put the Super Blues five goals to the good before James O’Brien popped up with two late goals for Waterford as he twice found himself free at the back post to fire past Freddy Hall who otherwise had very little to do for the visitors.  

In the final minutes of the game Greene capped a fantastic performance with a second goal which he swept under Chambers having broken free of a tired United defence. That back four had their work cut out on the night against a free scoring Limerick side who have bagged nine goals in their opening two league matches this season.

The home fans, who were remarkable on the night as they sang out in support of their team for 90 minutes, will be left wondering what the season ahead has in store for them whilst Roddy Collins is now left to figure out his defensive issues before his side makes the difficult trip to Dublin next week to face UCD.

Martin Russell has no such worries.  His side have so far lived up to their billing as favourites to get top spot and make a swift return to the Premier Division.

The Limerick fans can be in no doubt that there will be good times ahead for their side in the First Division this season if they can maintain the outstanding form they have shown in these early encounters.

Waterford United:Corey Chambers; Robbie Buckley, Jimmy Dermody (Dylan Maguire ‘46), Ian Sinnott, Shane Mackey; David O’Leary, Anthony McAlavey (Darren Murphy ‘63), James O’Brien, Sean Byrne (Aaron O’Connor ‘46); Philip Gorman (c), Eoin Rhodes.

Subs Not Used: Dean Broaders, Dean Reidy, Colum Nugent, Kevin Burns (GK).

Yellow Cards: Buckley, Rhodes, O’Leary.

Limerick FC:Freddy Halll; Robbie Williams, Seamus Sharkey, Colm Murphy, Paudie O’Connor; Shane Duggan © (Paul O’Conor ‘42), Shane Tracy, Aaron Greene, Stephen Kenny; Chris Mulhall (John O’Flynn ‘75), Garbhan Coughlan (Lee J Lynch ‘58).

Subs Not Used: Tommy Holland (GK), Ross Mann, Jordan Moore, Liam McCarthy.

Yellow Cards:Greene.

Referee: David Keeler.

Attendance:720.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aaron Greene (Limerick FC).