League Report: Drogheda United 0 - 3 Limerick

Limerick’s dominance of the SSE Airtricity League First Division continued apace on Friday evening with a 3-0 win over Drogheda United at United Park thanks to goals from Paul O’Conor, John O’Flynn and Lee Lynch. Such is the supremacy of the Super Blues in this division that their three goal haul is their lowest tally in a game so far this season.

Pete Mahon named an unchanged side from the one that put four past Cabinteely last week with Stephen McGuinness continuing in goal and Sam O’Connor favoured up front over Aaron Ashe. Limerick brought Aaron Greene and Seamus Sharkey back into the starting XI with Chris Mulhall and Garbhan Coughlan dropping to the bench.

The home side, who starting the evening in second place seven points behind Limerick, began brightly. Within the opening minute, Sean Brennan supplied Adam Wixted on the right wing and the former Derby County player cut into the box but his effort was high and over.

Limerick registered their first meaningful attack minutes later from a Stephen Kenny corner. His high lobbed delivery found its way to Greene but he failed to make contact with the ball from a few yards out.

When Drogheda United supporters look back on this game, they may linger on two moments in the first half and ponder ‘what if?’

Mid-way through the half, Eoin Kirwan on the left wing, flicked the ball onto Jake Hyland. His delivery into the box found Sam O’Connor who fired the ball goalward but he was denied by Robbie Williams’ goal line headed clearance. O’Connor’s follow-up strike failed to hit the target.  

On the half hour, the referee was brought centre stage when Greene’s hand ball was missed by the official and seconds later, as the home crowd screamed their protests, Colm Deasy reacted and earned a yellow card for his tackle on Greene. Niall Cooney was also booked for his protests.

The next passage of play resulted in the opening goal. Paul O’Conor’s first attempt was saved by McGuinness but from the rebound the ball was immediately crossed back into the box and O’Conor made no mistake second time around.

Limerick doubled their lead eleven minutes after the break. John O’Flynn’s initial attempt from the left ran across the face of the Boynesiders’ goal. With no one to clear, Kenny picked the ball on the right and, almost unchallenged, progressed into the box and crossed. This time O’Flynn powered the ball into the roof of the net.

Drogheda continued to push for their opening goal but instead Limerick extended their lead on 68 minutes as Lee Lynch’s fine shot from the edge of the box beat McGuinness and ended any hopes of a home side comeback.

Pete Mahon’s men didn’t give up and in the closing minutes they had numerous chances to pull goals back via Liam Donnelly, Jake Hyland and Sean Brennan but the trio failed to find a way past Freddie Hall.

Limerick’s steamrolling of the First Division shows no signs of letting up with the win making it six from six with 28 goals scored and only five conceded. Next up for Martin Russell’s men is a home visit by Cabinteely.

Meanwhile Drogheda travel to the UCD Bowl next to take on the Students who have leapfrogged the Louth side into second thanks to their 2-1 win over Shelbourne. 

Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Luke Gallagher, Stephen Dunne, Niall Cooney, Colm Deasy; Eoin Kirwan (Derek Doyle), Sean Brennan, Aaron Molloy, Jake Hyland, Adam Wixted (Aaron Ashe 77); Sam O’Connor (Liam Donnelly 74).

Subs Not Used: Patrick Dunican, Lloyd Buckley, Joseph Jackson, Joseph Jackson.

Booked: Colm Deasy (30), Niall Cooney (31), Jake Hyland (64).

Limerick FC: Freddy Hall; Seamus Sharkey (Shaun Kelly 65), Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Shane Tracy; Paul O’Conor, Shane Duggan, Stephen Kenny (Chris Mulhall 67), Lee-J Lynch, Aaron Greene; John O’Flynn. 

Subs not Used: Tommy Holland (GK), Garbhan Coughlan, Tony Whitehead, Ross Mann, Colm Murphy.

Booked: None.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Attendance: 500 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Lee Lynch (Limerick).

You can see Larry McQuillan's pictures from the game here.