League Report: Shelbourne 1 - 1 Limerick FC

Shelbourne failed to make their chances count as they missed a chance to end Limerick’s unbeaten run in the SSE Airtricity First Division this season when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park on Friday night.

Adam Evans had initially given the Reds the lead with a well-taken 23^rd minute goal before Limerick’s Robbie Williams grabbed a late equaliser to hold on to his side's phenomenal record as they remain undefeated in the league. 

Having made three changes to their team who lost the EA Sports Cup final last week, Limerick started the game lethargically. Shels had an early chance when Evans broke on a loose ball to go one on one with Freddy Hall but his weak shot was saved easily.

Limerick failed to get a foothold in the game bar a high and wide header from Garbhan Coughlan after eight minutes as the Reds began to dominate proceedings.

Indeed it was Owen Heary’s men who grabbed the lead mid-way through the first half when James English troubled the centre of Limerick’s defence before Evans latched on to the ball to skip through and neatly finish past Hall for a surprise lead.

It was nearly two goals for the home team five minutes later when the excellent Dylan Kavanagh struck a wonderful free kick off the crossbar from 25 yards. The Limerick woodwork wasn’t the only thing that was rattled.

Shels high pressing was working a treat and the English-Evans combination unsettling the Limerick defence with Evans’ well-struck shot saved by Hall just after the half hour mark.

Limerick didn’t have their first real chance until 36 minutes when Coughlan benefited from good Chris Mulhall work down the left to have a weak shot saved by Jack Brady from 12 yards.

As half time approached, Limerick could have easily undone all the Shels good work when Jack Brady failed to hold on to a great Aaron Greene cross but the rebound was eventually cleared as the Reds held a well deserved lead at the break.

Shels started the second half as they ended the first. The English and Evans pressing combination worked a treat again as Evans blocked a ball out from Paul O’Conor which was deflected behind for a corner which eventually was cleared by Limerick.

The First Division Champions still failed to gather themselves and it wasn’t until the 57^th minute that they had their first chance of the half when Shane Tracy had a free kick at the edge of the box stopped easily by the wall.

The pressure began to build on the Reds rearguard but after numerous Limerick set pieces, the best chance of the half came for Shels again with 20 minutes to go.  After a fine move involving Gavin Boyne, Lorcan Shannon and Carl Walshe, English tried to put the final ball in for Kavanagh but it lacked the killer touch.

Shels had the chance to kill the game off and end Limerick’s unbeaten run when Shannon broke down the right and cut back to Boyne who skied it from seven yards when he really should have scored.

They were made pay for the miss however, as against the run of play Limerick won a corner and Robbie Williams volleyed home from 10 yards for the equaliser eight minutes from time.

Neither side took the initiative in the closing minutes as Limerick, perhaps undeservedly, went on to continue their remarkable unbeaten run in the league this year.

Shelbourne: Jack Brady, Jack Tuite, Aidan Collins (Conor Keeley 87), Reece McEnteer, Lorcan Shannon, Daire Doyle, Gavin Boyne, Adam Evans, Dylan Kavanagh, Carl Walshe.

Subs Not Used: Greg Murray, Michael Kelly, Dylan Grimes, Ryan Robinson, Robert Duggan.

Booked: None.

Limerick FC: Freddy Hall, Robbie Williams, Paul O’Conor, Lee J. Lynch, Shane Duggan, Chris Mullhall, Aaron Greene, Shane Tracy, Garbhan Coughlan (Ross Mann 45), Sean Russell, Paudie O’Connor

Subs Not Used: Tommy Holland, Tony Whitehead, Val Feeney, Clyde O’Connell, Killian Brouder

Booked: Shane Duggan (74).

Referee: Simon Rodgers.

Attendance: 439.

Extratime Man of the Match: Adam Evans (Shelbourne).